Its Kind of a Funny Story Talking to Doctor

[Screen It]

"IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY"
(2010) (Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Moderate	Heavy	Mild	Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Minor	Minor	Heavy

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Minor	Heavy	Extreme	Minor

QUICK TAKE:: Dramedy: A depressed teen checks himself into a psychiatric ward where he must spend the next five days dealing with his issues and interacting with the other patients and staff.

PLOT:

Craig (KEIR GILCHRIST) is a depressed teenager who often thinks of jumping off a bridge to put an end to his misery, but then imagines offbeat reactions from his parents, Lynn (LAUREN GRAHAM) and George (JIM GAFFIGAN), and younger sister, Alissa (DANA DeVESTERN), who make him change his mind. Yet, he's still troubled, so he heads to the local emergency room and convinces the attending physician that he needs help. Accordingly, the doctor admits him to the psychiatric ward, but due to the teen wing being refurbished, he's put in with the adults.

After confusing fellow patient Bobby (ZACH GALIFIANAKIS) for a doctor, he meets the real staff that includes Smitty (JEREMY DAVIES) and Dr. Minerva (VIOLA DAVIS), with the latter informing Craig he's now committed for a minimum of five days of observation. Embarrassed by his condition, he doesn't tell any of this to his best friend, Aaron (THOMAS MANN), a point compounded by being attracted to that teen's girlfriend, Nia (ZOE KRAVITZ). He's then surprised when she takes a liking to him once she realizes Craig has also has issues with depression.

That becomes more complicated when he becomes attracted to fellow teen patient, Noelle (EMMA ROBERTS), with Bobby giving him all sorts of related advice when not hanging out with his fellow patients, Humble (MATTHEW MAHER) and Johnny (ADRIAN MARTINEZ). As Craig's Egyptian roommate, Muqtada (BERNARD WHITE), never leaves his bed and drug damaged Solomon (DANIEL LONDON) constantly tells everyone to be quiet due to his hyper-sensitive hearing, the teen tries to come to terms with his disease, all while having to make a choice between Nia and Noelle.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: They might be interested if they're fans of anyone in the cast or are interested in stories about depression and related matters.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For mature thematic issues, sexual content, drug material and language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: KEIR GILCHRIST plays a depressed teen with suicidal thoughts who seeks out help and ends up admitted to a psychiatric ward for a minimum 5-day stay. He's embarrassed by his condition and doesn't want to tell his friends, but his best friend's girlfriend -- to whom he's already attracted -- thinks it's cool and thus becomes interested in him. That leaves him torn as he also likes fellow patient Noelle, and he takes related advice from Bobby while trying to get to know him and his issues better. He briefly uses strong profanity and fools around with Nia when she visits him.

ZACH GALIFIANAKIS plays another ward patient who's in for a longer time, a genial guy who takes Craig under his wing. Although a bit goofy at times, he otherwise doesn't seem to have any problems, but his outward nature masks his inner problems, including having a wife and 8-year-old daughter and being suicidal himself. He uses some profanity and is concerned about his chances of getting into a halfway house.

EMMA ROBERTS plays another suicidal patient, but being a fellow teen, she's drawn to Craig and they develop a playful friendship bordering on romance. But she's then upset with him upon learning of his liking of Nia.

ZOE KRAVITZ plays that girl, his best friend's girlfriend who takes an increased liking to Craig once she realizes his condition. She visits and then tries to have sex with him before they're interrupted.

VIOLA DAVIS plays the caring but also careful therapist who works with all of the patients on the ward, including Craig to make sure he's okay to be released.

THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; ZACH GALIFIANAKIS plays another ward patient who's in for a longer time, a genial guy who takes Craig under his wing. Although a bit goofy at times, he otherwise doesn't seem to have any problems, but his outward nature masks his inner problems, including having a wife and 8-year-old daughter and being suicidal himself. He uses some profanity and is concerned about his chances of getting into a halfway house.

EMMA ROBERTS plays another suicidal patient, but being a fellow teen, she's drawn to Craig and they develop a playful friendship bordering on romance. But she's then upset with him upon learning of his liking of Nia.

ZOE KRAVITZ plays that girl, his best friend's girlfriend who takes an increased liking to Craig once she realizes his condition. She visits and then tries to have sex with him before they're interrupted.

VIOLA DAVIS plays the caring but also careful therapist who works with all of the patients on the ward, including Craig to make sure he's okay to be released.

THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; EMMA ROBERTS plays another suicidal patient, but being a fellow teen, she's drawn to Craig and they develop a playful friendship bordering on romance. But she's then upset with him upon learning of his liking of Nia.

ZOE KRAVITZ plays that girl, his best friend's girlfriend who takes an increased liking to Craig once she realizes his condition. She visits and then tries to have sex with him before they're interrupted.

VIOLA DAVIS plays the caring but also careful therapist who works with all of the patients on the ward, including Craig to make sure he's okay to be released.

THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; ZOE KRAVITZ plays that girl, his best friend's girlfriend who takes an increased liking to Craig once she realizes his condition. She visits and then tries to have sex with him before they're interrupted.

VIOLA DAVIS plays the caring but also careful therapist who works with all of the patients on the ward, including Craig to make sure he's okay to be released.

THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; VIOLA DAVIS plays the caring but also careful therapist who works with all of the patients on the ward, including Craig to make sure he's okay to be released.

THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; THOMAS MANN plays Craig's best friend and boyfriend to Nia who isn't aware of the attraction between those two. He smokes what may be a joint.

JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; JEREMY DAVIES plays a staffer on the psychiatric ward who works with Dr. Minerva.

LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; LAUREN GRAHAM and JIM GAFFIGAN play Craig's concerned but not initially attentive enough parents to recognize and do something about his pain.

BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; BERNARD WHITE plays Craig's Egyptian roommate who has never left his room and rarely his bed until Craig convinces him to do so.

MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; MATTHEW MAHER and ADRIAN MARTINEZ play other ward patients and friends of Bobby's.

DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.; DANIEL LONDON plays a Hasidic Jew who burned his mind out on acid and is now a ward patient with sensitive hearing who's always telling everyone to be quiet.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as is the beginning of what's eventually an interrupted teen sexual encounter. Other teen sex is suggested.

An upset mental patient has to be restrained after throwing things about. There's a brief dream scene of a suicidal teen on a bridge that, while played somewhat lightly, could still be unsettling. Related thematic elements are present, as is tense family material and some behavior that kids might want to imitate.

A teen smokes what looks like a joint, there's a flashback to an acid trip, pharmaceutical medications are taken, and there are drinking and drug related comments. Crude humor (mostly involving vomiting) occurs in several scenes.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some handheld camera movement (some of which is very bouncy, including in a flashback to Craig and Aaron as younger kids), while we also see a flying POV through an animated city, and a later spin-around camera shot.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Aaron smokes what looks like a joint.

Craig states he was on Zoloft but then went off that.

In an imagined bit, Craig hands drinks to two young women.

Not knowing where he's calling from, Nia jokingly asks Craig if he's in a crack den.

Aaron asks if there's beer in the psychiatric ward, with another friend asking if Craig can get him some Vicodin.

Bobby mentions that Solomon was part of a Hasidic acid head crew in the past and that he did 100 tabs of acid (thus resulting in him being in the psychiatric ward -- there's a related flashback, but while no actual drug use is seen we see his psychedelic view of the sky).

Bobby comments on being on prescribed medicine.

Bobby gives several pills to a guard who then allows him and Craig access to the hospital's gym (where they play basketball).

Bobby mentions that he gets high sometimes (being in the psychiatric ward with related medication).

In an imagined bit, Craig and Noelle hold glasses of wine or champagne.

BLOOD/GORE: In a flashback, Craig projectile vomits at dinner with his family.

Craig vomits into his own hand.

Noelle has old scrapes on her face (from cutting herself in the past -- unseen).

As Dr. Minerva and various patients discuss Bobby, he sarcastically states that maybe they should say he has hemorrhoids too.

About his old shirt, Bobby states it smells like a hobo's Band-Aid.

Humble hands Bobby a dollar bill (the one he presumably swallowed earlier, meaning it's come out the other end -- but appears clean/cleaned here).

Bobby jokingly asks Craig if the latter has any other "puke stories."

Craig vomits onto the floor when Muqtada walks in and interrupts Craig and Nia fooling around.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Some viewers might not like the film's humorous portrayal of depression and suicidal thoughts, but the film isn't glib about such matters and instead ends up as a sensitive (albeit sometimes funny) look at these issues.

Craig states (via voice-over narration), that he wishes he had an easy reason for his depression, such as that he was sexually abused in the past.

Bobby makes a crazy gesture at his head with his finger and makes a related "woo-hoo" sound.

Some people might not like terms used (by patients in the ward) such as "nut-job," "schizo" and more.

Craig hears and partially sees Bobby's wife yelling at Bobby in front of their daughter, with the wife asking what sort of father he is.

Bobby gives several pills to a guard who then allows him and Craig access to the hospital's gym (where they play basketball).

Craig jokes that he heard Bobby tried raping a penguin at a zoo.

Nia tries cheating on Aaron with Craig, with Craig being okay with that despite being Aaron's best friend.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: In a dream/nightmare, Craig is on a high bridge, climbs up onto a girder, and walks across that above traffic. His family then calls for him from the side, telling him to rethink things, but he loses his balance and falls a long way off the bridge (played lightly, with some voice-over narration commentary from him about all of that).

GUNS/WEAPONS: We briefly see performers with swords in a play.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "F*ck you," "I don't buy into that bullsh*t," "I was feeling pretty sh*tty," "Bird-dogging chicks," "Scrubbing your balls," "Maybe if you weren't such a d*ck," "Boner," "I do think you're hot," "Screwed up," "Nut-jobs," "Take a hike," "It smells like a hobo's Band-Aid," "He's being such a tool," "I'll freak out if I don't get in," "Shut up," "We're like so screwed up," "Tranny," "Dude," "You just need to chill now," "Goes nuts," "I just screwed the pooch" (nonsexual), "Screw the system," "Do you have any other puke stories?" "Oh my God, you're like a total rock star," "Douche-bags," "You're really screwed up," "Will kick your ass," "My dad might freak" and "I'm sorry I was a bitch to you" (said by a guy to another guy).

It's possible some kids could be enticed to imitate some of the psychiatric ward patient behavior on display in the film.

Noelle has Craig join her in a question game where whatever they say to each other (in a back and forth fashion) has to end in a question.

Bobby comes into a room with a dress shirt tied around his head.

We see a flashback to Craig and Aaron as younger kids, including them spitting off a bridge.

Bobby has Craig practice asking out Noelle, with Bobby pretending to be her (with a high-pitched voice, etc.).

After hearing Craig yell out to Nia that he loves her (as she's leaving in disgust), Noelle gives "the finger" to him and walks away.

Bobby walks in and states, "I got in," and Craig asks, "In what?" Bobby then replies, "In your momma."

About an application, Noelle gives it "the finger."

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A tiny bit of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song uses the phrase "Oh my God."

A song had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing something objectionable.

PROFANITY: At least 1 "f" word, 3 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("laid" and "hook up"), 2 slang terms using female genitals ("beaver"), 2 using male ones ("d*ck"), 1 ass, 1 crap, 4 uses of "Oh my God," 2 of "God" and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ" and "Swear to God."

SEX/NUDITY: Bobby tells Craig the latter should be on Coney Island "bird-dogging chicks."

Craig states (via voice-over narration), that he wishes he had an easy reason for his depression, such as that he was sexually abused in the past.

Bobby shows Craig around the psychiatric ward, telling him to make sure to put the shower door sign to "in use" as anyone will walk in on him while "you're scrubbing your balls."

We see a male transsexual in the psychiatric ward (clothed, but with obvious breasts).

Johnny states he had a lot of women in his day.

Craig showers, but all we see is a head and shoulders view.

Craig describes Aaron and Nia flirt-punching, then hand-holding, kissing and then having sex. We see images of all but the last behavior, with Craig saying he doesn't want to imagine that.

As Johnny looks through a biker magazine, Humble says all he wants is the "beaver" (we don't see any images), while Bobby comments about advertising and "hot chicks."

As Craig talks to Nia on the phone, he images her in a bathtub (we see that view, from the side, with nothing explicit above the top of the tub).

Nia shows some cleavage.

Noelle has Craig join her in a question game where whatever they say to each other (in a back and forth fashion) has to end in a question. During that, she asks if he's a virgin and he nervously laughs, but doesn't answer either way.

When the art coordinator wants Craig to draw something but Craig doesn't know what to do, Humble asks, "How about beavers?" The female coordinator says they don't draw that kind, but Humble then holds up his drawing of that mammal, with the coordinator saying she thought he was talking about vaginas.

Nia shows cleavage and Aaron climbs onto her on a bed.

Craig has a dream/nightmare about a teacher mentioning things that will be missed (a good school, a good job, etc.) if Craig doesn't get into his summer program, with her then asking doesn't he want to get "laid" (not by her, but in general).

Craig has his shirt open in an imagined bit of him as a rock star.

Craig mentions that a mental hospital is not the best place to "hook up."

Nia visits Craig and stares at her cleavage (seen in close-up as his POV) and she puts her hand on his clothed leg. We then hear him mention his thinking about her giving him a "boner" and she passionately kisses and then pushes him down onto Muqtada's bed (he's not there) and straddles him, saying she and Aaron (who've broken up) never did anything like this. Just then, Muqtada walks in and starts yelling, "Sex in my bed!" and "You make sex in my bed!" thus interrupting them from doing anything else, especially when Craig then vomits onto the floor.

Craig retrieves a drawing Noelle has made for him and slid under the door (while upset at him) that's of a penis and scrotum (meaning that's what she thinks of him).

Bobby walks in and states, "I got in," and Craig asks, "In what?" Bobby then replies, "In your momma."

Noelle mentions Craig probably telling Nia he thinks she's hot. Realizing she wants him to say the same about her, he says, "I do think you're hot."

Craig tells Noelle he wants to play doctor with her, but he really means to pretend he's a doctor and she's a patient so they can get out of the psychiatric ward and run around having fun for a while.

Noelle and Craig kiss.

Craig comments on making out with Noelle and then doing so again (seen), and then of drawing a naked woman in art class and then of drawing Noelle naked (we see her bare shoulders, but his canvas blocks the rest of our view of her, although he presumably sees everything -- all of this is presumably imagined).

SMOKING: Bobby asks Craig if he has a cigarette, and Craig says he doesn't.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Craig's parents seem concerned about him once he's institutionalized, but aren't shown much after that occurs.

We learn that Bobby is the father to an 8-year-old daughter who he misses while institutionalized.

Craig hears and partially sees Bobby's wife yelling at Bobby in front of their daughter, with the wife asking what sort of father he is.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Being depressed and suicidal.

Craig states he's been depressed for a year.

Noelle has old scrapes on her face (from cutting herself in the past -- unseen).

How panic attacks and related mindsets can spiral out of control as the mind races through possibilities.

Noelle covers up the suicide attempt slice marks on her wrists when Craig sees them.

Bobby mentions a patient who came to believe that the government bugged her phones and such.

Bobby admits that he's tried to kill himself six times in the past.

The comment that if you're not busy being born, you're busy dying.

VIOLENCE: Upset, Bobby throws and thrashes books and such until he's restrained by staff.

During a one-on-one game of basketball, Bobby knocks Craig down to the court.

Reviewed September 22, 2010 / Posted October 8, 2010

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