Starring Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Due Date), and Keir Gilchrist, It's Kind of a Funny Story merges the drama of teenage romance with the spurious nature of depression. When Craig (Gilchrist) checks himself into a psychiatric ward after feeling suicidal tendencies, and meets Bobby (Galifianakis), he soon realises that life really is worth living especially if you can connect with others and seek rewarding relationships.
While the film handles the issues of depression and psychological deficiencies well in the first period, the manner in which it slowly turns into a teenage fest, complete with slushy romantic elements, suddenly results in a film which loses all momentum and ultimately ends itself as a credible and enjoyable fare.
Galifianakis shines through as the only genuine performer in this hit-and-miss piece, demonstrating both the ability to be comical, touching and disturbed within the same character. Gilchrist on the other hand, is severely lacking in every sense. Whilst only seemingly able to express one emotion - nonplussed - and somewhat of a personality vacuum, he is unable to carry the film and leaves the role feeling somewhat inadequate. Combine this with the predictable and inevitably queasy nature of the film's final moments and the what could have been a fun and touching piece of cinema turns into a generic and severely lacking piece of background noise. Not even Zach 'The Beard' Galifianakis, who is emerging as a real talent, can save this.
6/10
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