Movie and Book Review: It's Kind of a Funny Story

Rating: 4/5; Would add to collection. Really liked it and had fun watching it even though it was not very realistic.

Release Date: October 8, 2010

Synopsis:
In this New York City-set comedy-drama (based on Ned Vizzini's book of the same name), 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig's mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Emma Roberts). With a minimum five days' stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside. 

Thoughts:
This movie was so charming, I loved that. It was also very fun to watch and ah, the cinematography was quite lovely at times. There was also this scene that made the movie incredible for me. It had to do with most of the main characters dressing up like rockers and signing/performing/rocking out to Under Pressure by Queen. It's SO hilarious!! The cute/adorable love story in the movie helped quite a bit especially the witty and darling dialogue.
Unfortunately what kept me from fully loving this movie was how unrealistic it was in the mental hospital. Yes, it can be happy in there but often times it is very sad, depressing, and serious. Not everyone is a happy-go-lucky person, yet in this movie that was the case. Not a fan of that at all. The writers are making light of it, but I wish they would get serious about it. In one particular scene I thought they would get serious/realistic, but they failed miserably. A few thrown boxes will not cut it for me.
Even though the unrealistic factor bothered me a lot I still loved this movie and would watch it again. I recommend it, but be aware that it is not a comedy. It's funny, but don't expect a comedy and don't expect a love story. It has a bit of everything, but essentially it's the story of a teenage guy who is depressed and has suicidal tendencies and after 5 days feels much better/grows as a person. That sounds somewhat ridiculous I know, but he learns more about life and how you should appreciate it. I felt sad that he wanted to kill himself and even though he says he has friends, eek he needs to get new ones because those were asshats. I loved how he explains that he thinks it's stupid to feel depressed only because of this or that (in this case it was because of school, a girl, and life in general). Someone should tell him that it's okay, it happens, and yes he should relax but it's not his fault he feels the way he feels and even though it seems like other people have it a lot worse he still feels crappy and needs help too.
If that sounds like something you'd like, check it out on October 8th!


I loved the music!
Soundtrack:
1. Not at My Best – Broken Social Scene
2. Smash It Up – The Damned
3. Happy Today – The Wowz
4. Icarus – White Hinterland
5. Where You Go – Elden Calder
6. The Ills – Mayer Hawthorne
7. Da Rockwilder – Method Man and Redman
8. Tourist in Your Town – Pink Mountaintops
9. Where Is My Mind – Maxence Cyrin
10. Blood – The Middle East  <---- download it by clicking on the album pic below! BTW the song is mostly about death and dying, it didn't fit the scene at all so I'm glad they didn't have the vocals on there haha
11. Check Me Out – Little Denise
12. Habina – Rachid Taha
13. Major Label Debut (Fast) – Broken Social Scene
14. Sweet Number One – Broken Social Scene

These are not on the official soundtrack above but one the trailer embedded below and the other was in the movie.
Under Pressure by Queen
Oh My God by Ida Maria --click to listen, it's so awesome and catchy!


Free song download:


Blood by The Middle East (I previously mentioned it here)


Download it by clicking on the picture.

Trailer (beware! it has too much in there. no spoilers but you won't be as surprised by some things):

Remember! The name of the song is Oh My God by Ida Maria.

Book Review


Rating: 2/5; It was bleh, couldn't even finish it, but I didn't manage to get 3/4 of the way through. This one's a skipper.

RD: 2007

Synopsis:
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life -- getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job -- Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.

At his new school, Craig realizes that he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping -- until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a moving tale about depression, that's definitely a funny story.

Thoughts:
Nope, not my kind of book at all. I found it interesting, but the writing just did not compel me to read the whole thing. It was just so slow in my opinion. It was also forgettable since I can't remember much about it (I did read it about 5 years ago though so it's been a while). I do remember hating Ned's so called friends. I really wish the writing and story was a bit faster and better because I'm fairly sure I would have enjoyed the story.
I don't recommend this one.

Adieu,
~~Lisette~~