"It's Kind of a Funny Story"

Big surprise for me! This film, directed and written by Anna Bodon and Ryan Fleck with a third writer, Ned Vizzini, far exceeded my expectations. A story focusing on teenage angst (our hero is a depressed, 16 year old boy, contemplating suicide, who checks himself into a mental hospital to get help) would not usually bring forth accolades from me -- but this was so well done, so expertly acted by Keir Gilchrist as Craig (who also narrates the story -- which is actually quite funny in places, but mostly it's an insightful drama), makes you care about him, as well as Bobby, who is marvelously, and I do mean marvelously played by Zack Galifinakis, delivering dialogue with brilliant timing and subtle nuances of expression . If that isn't effusive enough for you, let me also mention charming and talented Emma Roberts playing another 16 year old patient at the hospital. Every word of the diaglogue is a gem, and there are other fascinating characters to meet as well. Would you want to spend your vacation in a mental hospital? Well, I spent one hour and 20 minutes there today (vicariously, of course) and enjoyed every minute of it! (errata: fun to see Lauren Graham (of "Gilmore Girls" fame) as Craig's mother-- although just briefly.) Can you guess how many STARS? Try the number after three and before five. Yes! FOUR!