It was the final preview before my movie began but after watching movie previews for the past 10 minutes, I was tired of nodding in approval and booing in disgust. I quickly reached for my phone, wanting to check my texts one last time, when I heard the distinct voice of Zach Galifianakis, an actor most famous for his role of Alan Garner in 2009’s The Hangover. As I finished watching the preview I gave my nod of approval and thought to myself ‘I have to see that movie,’ but it never occurred to me that the movie was based on a book. I looked back to the movie screen right as these words appeared; It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
It took a three week search and a three minute conversation with Kayla Long about the movie before I found out that she had a copy of the book. From the time she placed it in my hand, through the very last page, I took my time reading and making sure I didn’t miss any details. I realized that this book was more than just a story, it was based on author Ned Vizzini’s five-day stay in a mental hospital.
Vizzini takes us on a journey through the eyes of depressed teen, Craig Gilner, who begins to party and smoke marijuana with friends on the weekends. After going through a full year of severe depression, lack of eating, major fatigue, and loss of interest, Gilner was put on an anti-depressive medication. When he thought the medication had done its job, Gilner stopped taking the pills. The choice he made had a negative outcome and lead him to decide that the time had come to end his suffering; he was going to kill himself. Gilner’s decision of suicide was changed after being influenced by one of his mother’s books which directed him to call the suicide hot-line. The hot-line directs him to the Emergency Room. He then checks himself into the hospital’s mental facility, Six North, and begins his transformation. During his time at Six North, Gilner meets people who influence and mold his life. Throughout the novel, Gilner struggles with reality and with the idea that people are depressed, mentaly ill, addicted, and hurting. He tackles confined love, rules and restrictions, and most importantly he takes control of his body, mind, and emotions.
The book has comedic moments to lighten the mood, but also contains dramatic, descriptive moments to make the audience see and feel the character’s emotions. Vizzini does a fantastic job of presenting the reality of the depression teenagers and adults face everyday and helping the audience see that depression is something people of all ages battle.
In comparison, the film, based on the book, had multiple minor changes in the background of several main characters. The changes did not affect the way the character influenced Gilner during his time spent in the facility and the proportion of comedy to drama during the film coincided perfectly with the novel.
The movie and the book shared similarities when similarities were called for. Both novel and film can stand independent from each other and still be very entertaining and enlightening. I was not disappointed with either and would suggest both to any one of my friends. The story presents realistic events happening, and emotions felt, in the daily life of a person. and shows that stress, pressure, and depression are commonly felt among teens as well as adults.
