While the Argenon Hospital Adult Psychiatric Ward may seem an unlikely setting for a coming-of-age story, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” is about viewing life with a fresh perspective.

The Daily Campus had the opportunity to chat with the film’s directors and screenwriters, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, as well as the leading actors, Zach Galifianakis and Keir Gilchrist, about what it was like creating the movie.

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story” is based on a novel of the same name and takes a humorous look at therapy and self-acceptance.

The film is lighter than Boden and Fleck’s previous film collaborations, but they felt audiences deserved a movie without a heavy dose of cynicism. “It felt very in the moment. It treated the issues with respect and didn’t talk down to the characters,” Fleck said.

“It’s what we loved about the book and hoped to translate into the film.”

The plot centers on a teenage boy, Craig (Gilchrist), who checks himself into an adult psychiatric facility at the suggestion of a suicide hotline.

Once inside the facility, he befriends a fellow patient, Bobby (Galifianakis), who teaches him about life on the inside.

An element of innocent romance is also added to the plot as Craig learns to cope and starts to change his outlook on life. He only stays in the hospital for five days, but the message is clear.

“One of the great things about the film is how he learns to appreciate what he has,” Fleck said. “We’d all be a lot happier if we did that.”

This is Gilchrist’s first major role in a film, and he fits the role of the socially awkward but lovable Craig well. Craig is on an emotional journey throughout the movie, and Gilchrist takes the audience along for the ride.

“It was not too difficult to relate to Craig, a guy my age who deals with stress, school and girls,” Gilchrist said. “It wasn’t at all different to find that place. I just drew from experience.”

The movie serves as a new direction for Galifianakis, as he moves away from his character in “The Hangover” to a more dramatic role.

The humor and perfectly timed comedic moments that he is famous for remain, however, but there is a depth to his character, Bobby, that has been lacking in prior roles.

“I like that this is comedy, but with some realism,” Galifianakis said. “I like characters that are fragile and a bit on the edge. Even though he (Bobby) is the sage to Craig’s character, he has some difficulties.”

The cast also features other well-known actors, including Lauren Graham and Emma Roberts.

Graham plays a fragile female character in her role as Craig’s mom, different from her usual strong-willed characters, while Roberts serves as a nice complement to Gilchrist, playing his love interest and fellow patient in the film.

Inspirational and relatable, the star-studded cast and the adapted screenplay do not disappoint.  

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story” will make you laugh, cry and maybe even change the lens through which you view the world.