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Comedy

Funny Pages (2022): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Funny Pages (2022) movie poster

Funny Pages is a 2022 comedy directed by Owen Kline, starring Daniel Zolghadri as Robert Bleichner, Stephen Adly Guirgis and Miles Emanuel. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Breakthrough Performance at the Spirit Awards 2023. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
82%
award nomination
1
Echo Score
48
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Funny Pages (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Owen Kline
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
A24
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Funny Pages About?

The premise of Funny Pages without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The film follows five students—Anthony, Bianca, Daisy, Emily, and Francisco—as they confront the difficulties within America's public school system. Through their experiences in problem-ridden classrooms, the story highlights the challenges they face and showcases their resilience and determination to succeed despite systemic obstacles. The narrative explores themes of education, perseverance, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Funny Pages Themes & Keywords

· 48 tags
  • teenage boy
  • nude man
  • male rear nudity
  • pork rinds
  • male nudity
  • male masturbation
  • quirky comedy
  • reference to mad magazine
  • f word
  • alarm
  • death of a friend
  • school bell
+36 more
  • police car
  • judge
  • reference to a ged
  • trenton
  • reference to harvard
  • reference to richard boone
  • reference to the 12 mile reef
  • reference to robert wagner
  • comic books
  • reference to dick tracy
  • reference to batman and robin
  • reference to jughead jones
  • reference to doonesbury
  • reference to the munsters
  • dirty cartoons
  • reference to image comics
  • image comics
  • reference to burger king
  • reference to walgreens
  • reference to percocet
  • christmas
  • fireplace
  • father son relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • grandfather grandson relationship
  • felix the cat
  • reference to the cartoon pogo
  • reference to donald duck
  • black eye
  • punched in the face
  • comic book shop
  • masturbation
  • cursing
  • swearing
  • car accident
  • funeral
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Cast & crew

Funny Pages Cast & Characters

Daniel Zolghadri leads the cast as Robert Bleichner, with Stephen Adly Guirgis as Mr. Katano and Miles Emanuel as Miles. Directed by Owen Kline; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Funny Pages

· 6 more
From the director

More from Owen Kline

More films directed by Owen Kline: Jazzy for Joe and Fowl Play.

Full filmography
Ratings

Funny Pages Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Funny Pages 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in story & flow (38).

48 /100

Funny Pages Echo Score Breakdown

Funny Pages presents a boldly idiosyncratic indie effort that divides opinion. Its artistic ambition and off‑beat visual flourishes attract praise, yet the uneven execution and fragmented narrative limit broader appeal. While performances occasionally rise above the chaos, the film often feels unfinished and meandering. Consequently, the movie offers moments of intrigue for niche audiences but struggles to sustain engagement for most viewers.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of direction and visual design, the film showcases a distinctive, gritty aesthetic that some critics find compelling. The use of close‑up shots and a retro, low‑budget texture adds an intentional oddness. However, many reviewers note a lack of polish, describing the final act as unfinished and the overall construction as slight. Overall, the artistic execution feels experimental but uneven.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character work, Daniel Zolghadri’s portrayal of Robert receives consistent acknowledgment for its rawness and authenticity. Supporting actors are noted as quirky yet occasionally engaging, delivering moments of nuance. Conversely, some viewers report a lack of emotional connection and find the protagonists unsympathetic. The ensemble thus offers intermittent depth, but overall character resonance remains mixed.

  • Story & Flow 38

    The narrative structure is frequently described as meandering and fragmented, moving from one bizarre vignette to another without clear resolution. Critics point out a promising premise that loses momentum in the third act, leaving the plot feeling unfinished. User comments echo this, citing disjointed pacing and an unsatisfying conclusion. Consequently, the story’s coherence and engagement are judged weak.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    Sensory elements such as the soundtrack and sound design receive modest attention, with some reviewers noting a suitably unsettling atmosphere that complements the film’s tone. Visual choices, including the odd color palette and exaggerated close‑ups, reinforce the comic‑book motif. Yet, several viewers describe the overall sensory experience as overly experimental and occasionally distracting, resulting in an average impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Rewatch appeal is contested; a subset of critics and viewers appreciate the film’s subversive edge and consider it a “page‑turner” for fans of underground comics. Others deem the oddity exhausting and advise avoidance after a single viewing. The polarizing nature of its humor and narrative limits its replay value, positioning the film as a niche curiosity rather than a repeatable favorite.

Plot

Funny Pages Plot Summary

What happens in Funny Pages from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Robert Bleichner, Daniel Zolghadri, a high school student and aspiring cartoonist, sits across from his art teacher, Mr. Katano (Stephen Adly Guirgis). After Katano reviews Robert’s portfolio—featuring bizarre, often provocative figures—he asks Robert to render a nude drawing of him, arguing that the teacher’s own figure might push the boundaries more than Robert’s work. Just as Robert is about to finish, his phone alarm interrupts, and he heads to work. Outside, Katano kerb crawls alongside Robert, attempting to talk to him, but Robert refuses to get in the car. On the road, the teacher, who is on the wrong side of the road, is struck and killed by a car.

Full summary

The whole story of Funny Pages, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

Funny Pages Awards & Nominations

Funny Pages earned 1 award nomination, including Best Breakthrough Performance at the Spirit Awards 2023.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Funny Pages Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser UK Teaser
  • Featurette Owen Kline discusses his first feature FUNNY PAGES
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Funny Pages?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the protagonist's name in the film?

Details

Funny Pages Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Two Against Nature” and “퍼니 페이지스”.

Also known as
  • Two Against Nature
  • 퍼니 페이지스
  • 有趣页面
  • Oldalak egy képregényből
  • Забавные рисунки
  • Veselé stránky
  • Śmieszne strony
  • Pasando página
  • חיים מחוץ לקווים

Seen Funny Pages?

FAQ

Funny Pages FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Funny Pages, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Funny Pages?

Funny Pages runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was Funny Pages released?

Funny Pages was released on August 26, 2022.

Who directed Funny Pages?

Funny Pages was directed by Owen Kline.

More films by Owen Kline

Who is in the cast of Funny Pages?

Funny Pages stars Daniel Zolghadri as Robert Bleichner, Stephen Adly Guirgis as Mr. Katano and Miles Emanuel as Miles, among 10 credited actors.

How is Funny Pages rated?

Funny Pages has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 57% on TMDB.

Was Funny Pages nominated for any awards?

Funny Pages received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Funny Pages have a post-credit scene?

No. Funny Pages has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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