As Aristotle defines it, "A comedy is a story of the rise in fortune of a sympathetic central character." Now, in order for a character to "rise", they must first start at a low point. It's Kind of a Funny Story, starring Keir Gilchrist and Zach Galifianakis, starts at the lowest of lows. The movie begins with the protagonist, Craig, an extremely depressed high school student, attempting suicide by considering jumping off a bridge. Due to pressure of applications, his social life, and his not-so understanding parents, Craig reaches his breaking point. As Craig checks himself into a metal hospital, viewers start to feel sympathy for Craig.
Things begin to brighten however, as we are introduced to Bobby and Noelle, two characters whose crude humor and vivid smiles shine light on Craig's situation. As more days go by within the hospital, Craig pushes away his negative thoughts and starts dwelling on his possibilities. By the time it's time for Craig to check out, he is a vastly different person. He even begins dating Noelle, completely eradicating any emotions he had towards his ex-girlfriend.
This gradual dramatic, but also comedic, rise in fortune is exactly the comedy Aristotle is defining. It's Kind of a Funny Story, is the eventual rise of a sympathetic character, which almost perfectly replicates a traditional comedy in the modern era.
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