Latest news with #Noelle
Tom's Guide
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Prime Video just added one of my ultimate guilty pleasure movies — and I'm almost embarrassed by how much I enjoy it
I'm not usually one to be shy about expressing my opinions on movies. As my recent, let's just say controversial, review of 'Havoc' proved, I've no problem going against the grain when I really like a movie. But, I still have some guilty pleasures that I'm a little more sheepish about declaring my enjoyment of. 2010's 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' ranks on that list. I quite like this comedy-drama set in a psychiatric hospital, but I can't deny there are a lot of flaws on display here. And yet, its tween-tone and bland protagonist have never managed to dent my overall enjoyment. Despite its hard-to-ignore issues, I have always found this movie very charming, and in my teenage years, more relatable than I'd like to admit. 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' recently arrived on Prime Video, and while I might be a tad embarrassed to have it on my watchlist, I'm glad its arrival on one of the best streaming services has given me the chance to revisit this heartwarming comedy-drama. Based on Ned Vizzini's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' focuses on Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist), a neurotic teen, who checks himself into a mental health hospital after struggling with persistent suicidal thoughts. Mixing with the clinic's other patients, he begins to quickly regret his rash decision to sign up for a five-day stay on the ward, but his outlook is changed when he meets Noelle (Emma Roberts), a fellow teen patient who might just provide the spark in Craig's life that he's been looking for. The 16-year-old also develops a close bond with Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), who takes on a mentor-like role, teaching Craig the ropes and also eventually opening up about his own mental health struggles and his difficult relationship with his daughter. 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' falls into a lot of predictable story beats, and I'm not especially onboard with its (arguably unintentional) message that finding a girlfriend will somehow fix all your problems. However, to this day, I can overlook these issues because of its offbeat charms. Craig is a pretty unengaging protagonist, but it's the people around him who shine. Zach Galifianakis is excellent as Bobby, bringing plenty of humor but also a deeper vulnerability underneath the happy-go-lucky facade. Galifianakis is the flick's beating heart, and pretty much all the funniest moments come from him. I still chuckle at several of his dry quips to this day. And Emma Roberts' Noelle makes for a suitable love interest, but it's a shame she's often relegated to being little more than a vehicle to help Craig find a reason to keep on trying. Frankly, the movie would probably have been better if Noelle were the lead character, as the few times she gets to step out from under Craig's shadows are among the movie's best. There's also a supporting role for Viola Davis as the ward's therapist, and while the material doesn't stretch Davis' chops, as per usual, she's reliably excellent. The movie's musings on life are most definitely not as deep or meaningful as they are presented, but there are a few nuggets of wisdom to be found here. And most of all, 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' is an easy watch with enough heart to feel like an underdog. And everybody loves an underdog, right? Critically, 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' was met with something of a shrug of the shoulders. It holds a 59% score on Rotten Tomatoes, knocking it just below the threshold for a 'fresh' rating and instead sees it come up rotten (which feels harsh to me). Its audience score is stronger at 66%. But both scores reflect the fact that the movie does have its flaws, so just don't expect a masterpiece. The goggles of youthful nostalgia may cloud my vision when it comes to 'It's Kind of a Funny Story,' but rewatching it now as an adult (at least, an adult in age, if not outlook), I still find it plenty appealing. Its issues have become more apparent with time, but its merits also remain. It'll always be a guilty pleasure. Meanwhile, if you're looking for some alternatives that rank above the guilty pleasure category, here's a rundown of everything new on Prime Video in May 2025. Watch "It's Kind of a Funny Story" on Prime Video now
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The closures don't stop – Omakase place The Social Outcast announces last service on 30 Mar
2025 is off to a rocky start for the local F&B scene. Along with several hawker stalls closing, Burger & Lobster is shutting their first (and last remaining) outlet at Jewel. Other restaurants that have shuttered their Jewel outlets include Violet Oon's eponymous restaurant, and modern Japanese restaurant Tanuki Raw will likely follow suit in April. The latest closure announcement is from The Social Outcast, whose final service at their popular Katong outlet will be on 30 Mar 2025. They will be hosting a BBQ Block Party on 29 and 30 Mar 2025 as a final send-off. In an Instagram post on The Social Outcast's account, founders Aminurrashid Hasnordin (also known as Mint) and Noelle Chua announced the closure. It was not sudden, or 'because things had gone south' – in fact, they had been planning it for at least the past year. Now that every goal they had set for themselves was met, it was time for them to step back and take a rest. The announcement was made with 'joy in their hearts', providing a bittersweet ending to The Social Outcast's current chapter. A previous interview with Noelle revealed that the restaurant struggled with staffing issues. Mr Aminurrashid has also confided that he was unable to find talent, and even if he did, it was difficult to hang on to them as they'd eventually be snatched up by bigger players in the F&B scene. This lack of manpower was the biggest pain point for him, more so than increasing rental and ingredient costs. He says that he would have considered staying on if he 'had three or four talented chefs and a general manager' because he would then have had space to do other tasks and grow the business. However, Mr Aminurrashid and Ms Noelle say that the closure 'isn't the end' for The Social Outcast brand. They intend to run popups and private dining events alongside exploring other opportunities, such as opening outlets overseas. Big Dot Chicken ceasing operations, to close in April or earlier The post The closures don't stop – Omakase place The Social Outcast announces last service on 30 Mar appeared first on
