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IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY |
Stressed out teenager Craig (Keir Gilchrest) with thoughts of suicide takes himself to the hospital and ends up committed in the adult ward (the youth ward in under construction). He bonds with Bobby (Galifianakis), who becomes a mentor despite having his own issues; and Noelle (Roberts), a cutter and the only other teen in the ward.
For a while, the movie glides along with clever transitions and subversive humor that add insight to Craig’s back-story without demeaning or succumbing to the potential clichés. Galifianakis’ soulful performance is easily his best, and the movie could have used more of his story and less pedantic therapy scenes with Davis that only repeats Craig’s narration.
There is an imaginative fantasy sequence with the cast performing the Queen-David Bowie classic “Under Pressure” that not only acts as a nice break from the action but actually advances the plot. Even though the answers come easily, the movie has a lot to say about art and therapy and how sometimes it’s good to just look around every now and again to appreciate what you have.
(Focus)
— DENNIS WILLIS
