After starring as a depressed long-term patient in a psych ward in "It's Kind of a Funny Story," bushy-bearded funnyman Zach Galifianakis muses that maybe he'll end up in such an institution someday.

"We are a very vulnerable species, anyone can be close to the edge to ending up in a facility like that," he told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday. "Maybe I will end up in one these places myself . . . you have your free TV, you have your free food . . . and tonnes of medication."

While Galifianakis has already had his breakout role in the 2009 comedy hit "The Hangover," his latest film (opening Oct. 8) will introduce audiences to the comedian's serious side.

But Toronto's Keir Gilchrist, who stars in the film as troubled 16-year-old Craig, says he's still not sure who his co-worker is.

"I think Zach is this big mystery (and) everyone wants to know what he's like in real life . . . he's a really funny guy, he cracks jokes all the time (but) I'm not really sure how to describe Zach in real life, he's a complex dude," he told CTV.ca in an interview during the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

"Even just riding in the van one day, I was listening to The Smiths on my iPod loud enough that he heard them through my headphones and he got out of the van and started singing like Morrissey as loud as he (could) in the street and it totally took me back."

Emma Roberts, the up-and-coming actress who plays Gilchrist's love interest, Noelle, says she had a hard time keeping a straight face working with Galifianakis.

"He would come up with things and you'd just wonder ‘How did that even come into your brain?'" she told CTV.ca during a TIFF interview. "It was cool to watch him work because you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth, it was funny every time."

The role of Bobby is a meaty one for Galifianakis, allowing him to display a thick streak of world-weariness under his trademark deadpanned humour.

The highlight of the film is the budding relationship between Bobby and Craig, the type-A student who is feeling "sort of" suicidal, and checks himself into a psych ward, only to find out he will be sent to the adult section for five days.

"The character Bobby sees a younger version of himself in Craig and he's trying to shape the kid and realizes he (has) this whole life ahead of him," Galifianakis said. "And Bobby probably regrets he's made so many mistakes in his life and feels very desperate."

To read or not to read

Gilchrist says he took to his character immediately, and knew he wanted an audition as soon as he read the script.

"I definitely related to Craig right away. School's hard and the opposite sex can be a huge mystery," he says, while dressed in an all-black outfit that wouldn't be out of place as one of The Ramones.

But Gilchrist confesses he has never read Ned Vizzini's semi-autobiographical book, on which the movie is based on.

"I meet more and more people my own age who love it, especially when I tell them they are making that book into a movie, they freak out," he said.

"It obviously means a lot to people, so I may read it, we'll see."

For Roberts, who read the book when she was younger, the chance to play Noelle was too good to pass up.

"I read the book when I was about 14 or 15, and I really loved it and remember thinking it would make a great movie and getting to be in it is really special to me because I really clicked with the character of Noelle," the 19-year-old niece of Julia Roberts said.

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the duo behind "Half Nelson," the film has a second Canadian connection, besides Gilchrist.

The film's music is done by Toronto indie rock stalwarts Broken Social Scene.

"I actually saw Broken Social Scene play at the (Toronto) Island festival this year … they are really talented cool band, I'm proud of them being from Toronto, it's great to have them in the film," Gilchrist said.

"It's Kind of a Funny Story" opens October 8.