One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Meets Glee

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise because Fleck and Boden have already revealed a rare talent for doing the unexpected. In 2006's Half Nelson they turned the well-worn 'pupils overcome adversity in an inner-city school thanks to an inspirational teacher' story on its head by making the teacher more screwed up than his students, while 2008's Sugar analysed the American sporting dream from the perspective of a Dominican baseball player trying to make it to the Major Leagues. Now, in It's Kind Of A Funny Story (based on Ned Vizzini's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name), the pair have crafted a sweet-natured mash-up of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Glee.

The film begins with 16-year-old Craig (a likeable Keir Gilchrist) having what he describes as 'a very bad night'. He feels pressured by his family to pass an entrance exam for a prestigious college and he's obsessed by his best friend's girlfriend. When Craig has nightmares about taking his own life, he decides to seek help at the ER department of Brooklyn's Argenon Hospital. He's hoping for some quick-fix medication to combat his depression, but instead finds himself committed to a psychiatric ward. To make matters worse, the youth section is closed for maintenance and he has to share a ward with adult patients.

Craig is soon taken under the wing of eccentric fellow patient Bobby, played by The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis, who attempts to educate him in the difficulties of growing up. Galifianakis gives a complex performance, gradually revealing the layers of tragedy that lie beneath Bobby's wisecracking exterior, and shows that he's a far more interesting actor than the Jack-Black-in-waiting he's appeared to be up until now.

Viola Davis and Jeremy Davies scene-steal every time they appear onscreen as hospital staff, while animated sequences and a big musical number maintain the feelgood (feelbetter?) factor, as well as providing an insight into Craig's mental state. Emma Roberts is bland as the self-harming emo teen who's Craig's alternative love interest and the tone does sometimes become a little too cosy and mainstream, but – as a psychiatrist might advise – these are minor problems in an otherwise very enjoyable film.

Colin Houlson

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