Movie/TV Show Being Reviewed:
It's Kind of a Funny Story

Reviewer:
Jenifer Aronson and Philip Clarke

Genre:
Drama

Movies/TV Shows:
Movie

Suggested Age Range:
Teen

Age Range Explained:
Adolescent and adults could enjoy as well

Subject Headings:
Anxiety disorders, Depression, Family dynamics, High school, Relationships, Self-injurious behavior, Sexuality, Spiritual journey

Review:
This dramatic comedy presents a more hopeful outlook on a serious topic than one would expect of a movie today. Craig Gilner is a likeable 16 year old male who finds himself on the verge of suicide on a weekend in New York City and convinces the staff member assessing him at the hospital to have him committed on a Sunday evening. Unfortunately the children’s psychiatric wing is under renovations and he finds himself out of place on the adult wing with more seriously disordered patients for the next five days of mandatory treatment. He comes from a moderately stable and supportive family and attends a highly competitive high school. Though bright and perceptive, he is under a lot of pressure to live up to regarding his family, school, and social environment. Craig’s wonderings, insights and reaching out to the others on the floor is both realistic and inspiring and they give back in their own limited ways. Young clients struggling with the pace of life today and typical teen concerns of identity, achievement, sexual attraction and differentiation from their parents will all find ways of identifying with this movie.

This is a "feel good” movie, without being trite, having all the answers or suggesting there is no work involved in counseling and getting better. The film is great for discussing irrational beliefs such as "musturbations”, "shouldisms”, and other forms of "awfulising” situations. Use caution if incorporating as bibliotherapy due to above topics and themes of self-injurious behavior. Counselors will also benefit from the film’s presentation of these mental health topics.