The melodramatic film “This is a very funny story” by American directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (starring Keir Gilchrist) turned out to be really interesting and curious. The film is based on the novel of the same name by the American screenwriter and writer Ned Vizzini. Want to get invaluable advice on how to act and enjoy life right now? Then the movie is for you. It is not in vain that his slogan says that sometimes in your head not all thoughts are as crazy as you think.
A few words about the plot
In life, we all have to deal with the problem of choice literally from an early age. The scale of the problem grows as you grow older. Yesterday it was just what you want for breakfast, and today you have to choose a life path. Listen to your parents or do what you like? These are throwings capable of introducing the soul of a teenager into complete turmoil. The actors “This is a very funny story” brilliantly conveyed the atmosphere of the film: from sadness and longing to new desires and opportunities. The main character in a state of clinical depression discovers new feelings in a psychiatric clinic, getting to know the same “lost” and lonely girl.
Lead actor
Sixteen-year-old Craig Gilner was played by Canadian actor Keir Gilchrist. At that time, he himself was only two years older than his on-screen hero.
Craig suffers from severe clinical depression associated with adolescent problems. However, parents do not take his problems too seriously. He is tormented by thoughts about exams and a possible failure, summer school, university, the search for a second half, and even the issue of rented accommodation. The only way out for him is the doctor. He is prescribed a very peculiar treatment - a stay in a psychiatric clinic for five days, without the use of any medications.
In general, Craig appears before the viewer at the beginning of the film as a teenager who doubts everything, believes that his life is full of failures and, in general, worse than a catastrophe.
“This is a very funny story”: Emma Roberts
One of the main roles in the film was played by a charming American actress (niece Julia Roberts and daughter Eric Roberts) Emma Roberts. She is familiar to the audience by participating in projects such as Otorva, Nerve, and We Are the Millers.
Her character is a patient at the Noel Psychiatric Clinic. She ended up in the hospital due to suicide attempts. After meeting Craig, a new period begins for both of them. The guy realizes that he fell in love with Noel.
Zach Halifianakis
An American actor with Greek roots embodied on the screen the image of another patient in a psychiatric clinic. He is known to the general public mainly for the role of the eccentric and colorful Alan Garner from the trilogy "The Hangover Party."
His character's name is Bobby. This is an adult married man who has an eight-year-old daughter. His wife forbade him to communicate with the child too often. Bobby becomes Craig's mentor and senior friend. He helps him, although he himself was in the clinic in connection with the sixth suicide attempt.
Actors "This is a very funny story" and the very idea of the film by critics was greeted coolly. Of all the reviews left, only half were positive.
An unpleasant coincidence is the fact that the author of the book, based on which the picture was shot, and one of the scriptwriters, Ned Vizzini, also suffered from depression for a long time and ultimately decided to commit suicide by jumping from a high-rise building. The writer died in 2013 at the age of thirty-two.
Zoe Kravitz and Thomas Man
Thomas Man and Zoe Kravitz are actors of "This is a Very Funny Story", playing the role of a friend and girlfriend of Craig at school. Only after visiting a psychiatric clinic and sensibly assessing the scale of his problem, he comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to value those who are nearby, here and now. The girlfriend of a teenager named Nia was played by an American model, singer and actress Zoe Kravitz (pictured) - the daughter of the legendary musician Lenny Kravitz. She is well known to the audience for the role of Christina from the divergent trilogy.
The protagonist of the film also has a close friend - Aaron Fitzcarraldo. His role was played by American actor Thomas Mann, who took part in such films as “Beautiful Creatures” and “Witch Hunters”.
These are the main actors. "This is a very funny story." In addition, the project starred Viola Davis, Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham, Bernard White, Jeremy Davis.
Taking into account not the most positive and easy theme of suicides, the film nevertheless turned out to be romantic, easy to perceive and pleasant to watch by a wide audience. Viewers rated it much higher than professional critics. Especially often celebrate the good game of Keir Kilkrist. He subtly and believably was able to convey all those feelings that are characteristic of a teenager, and also reflected the process of transformation of his personality from a sharply negative pole to a positive one.
The story does not look so much funny as life-affirming and positive, instilling hope in the hearts of people.