Certifiably Funny

By Chris Hemond

It’s kind of a funny review

In 2005, recently released from his own stint in an adult psychiatric hospital in Brooklyn, NY, Ned Vizzini wrote a novel about a suicidal 15-year old boy who was also committed. 

 It’s Kind of a Funny Story follows young Craig Gilner who, upon being accepted into the most prestigious high school in New York, finds the mounting pressure of life to be unbearable and begins to have suicidal thoughts. Craig checks himself into the Argenon Psychiatric Hospital where he meets a wide variety of interesting characters, each with their own problems and idiosyncrasies. Craig learns a lot in his five days at the hospital including how to better deal with the everyday stresses of life.

Having recently read Vizzini’s book, it was exciting to discover that a feature film was based on it, starring the very funny Zach Galifiniakis. Who better to play a patient in a mental hospital than Galifiniakis, with his scruffy appearance and truly crazy demeanor? The movie had promise, and it did not disappoint. 

As usual in any film adaptation, there were some differences between the film and Vizzini’s novel. In the film, the issue that turns Craig’s barely manageable depression into suicidal thoughts and, ultimately, his commitment to the psychiatric hospital, is an application to a prestigious summer school. Craig’s father, who unintentionally adds to his son’s stresses, not so subtly encourages his son to do what he can to attend the school. The pressure to get accepted is too much, and Craig finds himself unable to cope. The novel, however, focuses on the total culmination of a wide variety of factors that lead to Craig’s five-day stay at Argenon Psychiatric: the pressures of his prestigious high school; his infatuation with his best friend’s girlfriend; and the perception that the people around him are coasting through life easily while he struggles. Each of his issues—relatable issues—continue to mount on Craig’s mind. He is left wondering, “how it could possibly get any better?”

The casting in the film was great. Keir Gilchrist also does a tremendous job in the film as the main character, Craig. Craig is a kid going through difficult times with very believable problems, and Gilchrist plays the part well with his unsure demeanor and stressed-out look.

The addition of Zach Galifiniakis not only helps with the movie’s popularity in the mainstream, it also allows people to see that the guy can actually act. His character, Bobby, who has tried and failed six times to kill himself, is at times hilarious, saddening, pathetic and even a role model for Craig. I was truly impressed with his ability to transition from his other character, Alan from The Hangover, to a mental patient with serious emotional problems.

Even the complimentary characters—like Johnny, the wannabe womanizer who took too many drugs; Muqtada, Craig’s severely depressed, Egyptian roommate who refuses to leave his bed; and Noelle, the young girl who cuts herself and whom Craig falls for while at the hospital— all do a wonderful job to keep the audience believing that this is a mental hospital, without being fed images of straightjackets and padded rooms.

The film is shot in present day, but includes many short flashbacks which help piece the story together, as close to Vizzini’s novel as possible. Craig’s inability to keep food down, how he got to know his best friend, his infatuation with Nia, and how enjoyable life was before the pressure of success became an immense burden were all presented with the use of flashbacks. These were all vital to the understanding of the story. This tool can sometimes be confusing if it is not used correctly, but directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck used the flashback technique well. The audience was able to quickly gain important background information to help them understand present circumstances.

Animation is also used sporadically throughout the film to illustrate Craig’s outlet for his stress: drawing maps. Periodically, the audience is taken through the illustrated streets, alongside parks, buildings, and subway systems of a world Craig creates. The inclusion of animation in live-action films is often something I don’t care for, but in this instance, Craig’s maps are an integral part of the story. To be taken on a literal tour of the cities he creates on paper was very effective.

Overall, I think that the directors of It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, did an excellent job capturing the essence of Ned Vizzini’s book. The issues are real, applicable and the audience is given stellar performances by the entire cast.

As someone who has read the novel, I am glad that the film crew took an approach that deviated very little from the original story. The audience is shown a very real, relatable view of mental illness from Vizzini, a man who has experienced it firsthand.