It's Kind of a Funny Story 2010

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: It's Kind of a Funny Story really isn't so funny. Cute, bordering on cutesy, yes. Light and shallow and inconsequential in a lot of ways. But funny? Rarely. Read more

James Rocchi, MSN Movies: ... limp and phony and cute, smothered in fantasy sequences... depicting serious mental illness as a series of charming quirks or stick-on makeup scars, peddling the same tired obligatory but-wait-maybe-it's-we-who-are-the-crazy-ones cliches. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: It's the worst kind of post-ironic, my-week-of-healing dramedy, set in an NYC mental ward in which cute patients flirt, tease and scamper around hallways like runaways in a John Hughes film. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: The film itself is fairly slight: I'm not sure what it adds up to. Still, I enjoyed every moment... Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: If a movie about schizophrenia, delusion and attempted suicide can be called pleasant, even mild-mannered, this is that movie. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: Though engaging and sweet, with a nice feel for the purgatory-like blankness of mental hospital life, It's Kind Of A Funny Story suffers from a serious, if not quite fatal, attack of the cutes. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Few studio directors would be able to bring the warmly democratic touch to this subject that Fleck and Boden manage without even seeming to try. At the same time, you sort of wish they'd tried harder. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: The kid's problems are less interesting than the whackos surrounding him, but that prevents the movie's coming-of-age narrative from becoming too pat: like the space between comedy and drama, the one between sanity and insanity is where real life [is]. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: It's Kind of a Funny Story, divided into neat little daylong chapters in Craig's stay, lacks the staying power and bittersweet layering of Half Nelson and Sugar. Yet it holds together. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the film's co-writing-directing team, are too principled to tip the film into the slacker reaches of sorrow. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: This is a strange failing for the tag team who has handled the wounded so well in previous outings. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Weird. And disappointing. Read more

Christopher Kelly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com: From start to finish, It's Kind of a Funny Story walks an uncommonly deft line: Playful comedy gives way to moments of shockingly immediate and honest emotion. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: The densely built and bearded Galifianakis demonstrates, in an impressive display of quieter dramatic skills, that he knows when to dial it down. Read more

Eric D. Snider, Film.com: A funny and warm film that addresses its serious issues with sensitivity but refuses to become bogged down in somberness. Read more

Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter: A dramatically inert, lethargic dramedy that isn't nearly as quirky and poignant is it perceives itself. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: Above all, Fleck and Boden break the fourth wall brilliantly and frequently, and that inventiveness is one of the film's great charms. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: It's Kind of a Funny Story lacks substance, but after you've spent a short time in this ward, you have to agree with Craig: These crazies aren't so bad. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Co-directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, who directed the gritty indie dramas Half Nelson and Sugar, go all gooey and sentimental here. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Disarmingly gentle, sweet and whimsical. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: If there's a psych ward for motion pictures, It's Kind of a Funny Story should check itself in. Boden and Fleck's film suffers from bipolar disorder: manic and silly one minute, moody and muted the next. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The acting is strong, with Galifianakis doing an especially good job as the likeable Bobby. Read more

Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: The writing-directing team of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden have created a solid mix of serious, darker scenes and flights of fancy. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Galifianakis is a comic force of nature, but he digs down here and delivers a beautifully nuanced performance that gets under your skin. Just like the movie. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The journey is aided immeasurably by the casting of Keir Gilchrist as young Craig. He has dark, sensitive eyes and a probity about him that wins you to his side. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: The plot isn't all that original and the movie isn't all that flawless, but It's Kind of a Funny Story has a sweet and sincere quality that won me over. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Like a short course of intelligence-numbing anti-depressants: Though it may make you feel temporarily better, it's probably not worth the icky aftertaste. Read more

Guy Dixon, Globe and Mail: Zach Galifianakis steals the picture as the chronically dysfunctional but eminently wise Bobby, who teaches the adolescent how to like himself. Warts and all. Read more

Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine: Despite the pleasant, loopy energy and fine performances -- Galiflanakis conjures a surprisingly sad character, and I grew fond of Gilchrist, with his impenetrable black eyes and rosebud mouth -- you walk out of it shaking your head. Read more

David Jenkins, Time Out: A pleasant movie, but no more. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Mental illness is not inherently funny. But people acting crazy can be. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: The filmmakers fully retain their offbeat sensibility and attentiveness to character while providing perhaps the sharpest showcase yet for Zach Galifianakis' outsized talents. Read more

Eric Hynes, Village Voice: I used to think art was just bourgeois decadence, a wiser Craig says in the end, which is funny, because thats kind of what this film is. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: So many elements, from its setup to scenes of therapy sessions and hallway high jinks, seem as canned as the blandest dayroom Muzak. Read more