Review:
Craig Gilner, a bright, young, clinically depressed 15-year-old, is struggling with the pressures that come with attending a prestigious New York City high school. Early Sunday morning, he checks himself into the psychiatric unit at his local hospital. Due to construction on the children’s floor, Craig is placed in the adult psychiatric wing. Here he befriends several residents who help him cultivate a clearer sense of purpose in life. With help from doctors and fellow patients, Craig’s 5-day journey culminates in the realization that there is more to life than he had previously believed. As Craig exits the hospital, he re-enters the outside world with the profound personal sagacity to face all that life has to offer. It’s Kind of a Funny Story tells the story of a depressed teenager in n more positive manner than most movies of its kind.

 

This film has the potential to help depressed adolescents realize the importance of seeking help when feelings of depression become out of control. Like many teens, the protagonist feels bound by the pressures to succeed in every phase of life. Craig’s decision to seek professional help could encourage depressed teens into duplicating his action. Counselors working with this age range could benefit from experiencing the movie’s candid portrayal of a student’s internal dejection when their exterior is ostensibly ideal. It’s Kind of a Funny Story’s messages of friendship, love, and resilience are authentic enough to resonate both client and parent audiences.