The Perks of Being a Wallflower Review

Rated PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material, Drug and Alcohol Use, Sexual Content including References, and a Fight—All involving Teens)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 42 Minutes

Cast-

Logan Lerman-Charlie Kelmeckis

Emma Watson-Sam

Ezra Miller-Patrick

Mae Whitman-Mary Elizabeth

Johnny Simmons-Brad

Erin Wilhelmi-Alice

Adam Hagenbuch-Bob

Nina Dobrev-Candace Kelmeckis

Zane Holtz-Chris Kelmeckis

Reece Thompson-Craig

Nicholas Braun-Ponytail Derek

Paul Rudd-Mr. Anderson

Kate Walsh-Charlie's Mother

Dylan McDermott-Charlie's Father

Melanie Lynskey-Aunt Helen

Joan Cusack-Dr. Burton

Directed by Stephen Chbosky

Logan Lerman and Emma Watson star in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," one of the best coming-of-age films I've seen.

My best friend, who is 24 like me, mentioned that he now gets backaches when sitting in front of the computer for too long. 'We're old,' I responded. Hell, I can even spot a few grey hairs whenever I look at myself in the mirror. What's ironic is that it's only been six years since I graduated high school and yet I still feel like that awkward kid who overcompensates by behaving like a total clown in front of his classmates (and teachers!). Of course, being awkward just comes with the territory of being a teenager and that's what writer/director Stephen Chbosky captures in his sophomore effort, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," based on his own novel published in 1999. Chbosky's first film was the independent comedy "The Four Corners of the World," which was shown on the Sundance Channel in 1995 but his most popular work (besides his novel) was the short-lived CBS television series "Jericho," on which he served as co-creator, writer, and executive producer. He also wrote the screenplay for 2005's "Rent," based on the Broadway rock musical of the same name. Adapting his own novel must've been a dream come true for Chbosky and he proves himself up to the task as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is one of the most sincere coming-of-age films I've seen thanks to its honest performances from its talented leading cast. 

Set in 1991 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shy and introverted fifteen-year-old Charlie Kelmeckis (Logan Lerman) is nervous about beginning his freshman year in high school. Writing to an anonymous person dubbed only as 'Friend,' Charlie reveals that he had a mental breakdown the year before. His first day of school does not go well as he ends up eating lunch alone and gets bullied by several of his peers. He does manage to make a connection with his English teacher, Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd), although Charlie is too self-conscious to participate in class. During shop class, Charlie encounters a senior named Patrick (Ezra Miller) and is impressed when he stands up to their sarcastic teacher. Returning home, he pretends to have had a good first day as to not worry his parents (Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott) and sister (Nina Dobrev) any more than he has to. Attending a football game alone, Charlie strikes up a conversation with Patrick, and is later joined by his stepsister Sam (Emma Watson). The stepsiblings greet Charlie warmly, taking him to a local diner and driving him back home. When Charlie reveals that his best friend Michael committed suicide the May before while high from eating brownies filled with marijuana, Sam and Patrick decide to induct him into their circle of friends made up of similar social misfits, or 'wallflowers.' Introduced to a whole new world of experiences, Charlie's demeanor improves as he bonds with his new friends over their eccentricities but the past soon catches up to him and his life begins to spiral out of control. 

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is a story of firsts as Charlie finds himself experiencing all these new sensations and feelings that come with being a teenager. It's not exactly reinventing the wheel as a coming-of-age tale but what sets the film apart is that it manages to not lose sight of the story's heart even as it goes into darker territory, where it approaches taboo topics with a subtlety that doesn't feel handicapped by its PG-13 rating. I will admit that I have not read the book but that in no way diminished the film in my eyes because I found myself relating to the characters more than I thought I would. While I haven't suffered a mental breakdown (so far), Charlie reminded me of myself in many ways as I used to dread meeting new people (something I've partially outgrown) and during social gatherings, I would actually be that one person standing alone with my back against the wall. I also identified with Patrick, who is the film's standout character, always cracking jokes without any thought of what others think of him. Despite the heavy material, Chbosky recognizes that high school is not all about mopey angst and he infuses the dialogue with an energetic wit, referring to Sam and Patrick as the 'island of misfit toys.' One of the more hilarious scenes is when everyone (except Charlie, who is sitting with the audience) acts out "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" while it plays in the background, with Patrick as the cross-dressing Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the role made famous by Tim Curry, and Sam as Janet, originally played by Susan Sarandon. It's a reminder of all the crazy stunts we all did in high school but where the film succeeds is in capturing that part of our lives where you're not a child anymore yet also not quite an adult. 

All the characters are striving for acceptance and Chbosky handles their struggles in a way that feels honest and sincere. Without the guidance that comes with hard-earned wisdom, they all flounder around, blindly accepting the 'love [they] think [they] deserve' (I sure could've used that advice when I was fifteen). It's clear that J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" influenced Chbosky as a writer but there's more of a sense of optimism here because the film celebrates the deep bonds we form in high school, either through study groups or having similar tastes in music. Despite being set in 1991, the story has a timeless feel that will resonate with not only teenagers but adults as well, although watching the characters wonder about the 'Tunnel Song' (actually David Bowie's Heroes) was a source of amusement since nowadays you could simply look it up on the internet…on your phone! Mixtapes may have gone out of style but the time and effort needed to make them spoke volumes about how much you cared for that person. The eclectic soundtrack adds a lot of flavor to the film and the aforementioned Heroes relates to the characters feeling of invincibility, that nothing can touch them. 'We are infinite' indeed. 

The cast in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is wonderful and the chemistry among them is just perfect. This is the breakthrough performance for Logan Lerman, who embodies all of Charlie's insecurities and doubts yet also captures his innocence and wide-eyed wonder. Watching him struggle to be understood and accepted made me emotional at times, which I did not expect. For many, Emma Watson will be the main draw and it's an attempt by the young actress to separate herself from Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" films. Her American accent is not as seamless but she excels as Sam, exuding a warm personality and a vulnerability that is both heartfelt and genuine. It's easily her strongest role to date, a fully nuanced performance that shows how far she's come. Stealing the film is Ezra Miller as Patrick, whose wise-cracking charisma helps defuse some of the heavier moments without dulling his dramatic flair.  The adult cast is made up of familiar faces but are largely underutilized. Only Paul Rudd as a sympathetic English teacher made an impression. Ironically, my favorite teachers in high school all taught English. 

Premiering at this year's Toronto International Film Festival before being released on September 21, 2012, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" has received positive reviews with 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as 'a heartfelt and sincere adaptation that's bolstered by strong lead performances.' The film has received a number of accolades but unfortunately, it's unlikely to really gain much traction as we head into awards season. With so many good films released in the past few months, it's understandable that some will get lost in the shuffle. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is one of the truest coming-of-age films I've seen, one that captures the nostalgia of being a teenager with impeccable detail and captivating honesty, even if it doesn't exactly break any new ground.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite."