The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, Paul Rudd, Melanie Lynsky, Mae Whitman
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance
2012

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A lonely freshman (Logan Lerman) befriends two seniors (Emma Watson, Ezra Miller) who help him adjust to high school and teach him about life.

Review:

Tim: Color me surprised, but I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I did not expect such a powerful, emotional, memorable film from director Stephen Chbosky, who was directing only his second film (and the first in 17 years). Chbosky was working off a script he wrote based on his own book, so he has a lot of knowledge of the story. Still, he directs at a master level. This is a beautiful, poignant, powerful coming-of-age story. It's one of the best movies I have seen this year.

The basic premise is nothing new, but Chbosky brings such emotion to everything. The film harkens back to those days in our youth, where we never quite felt like we belonged. It touches that nerve that everyone felt of being very alone, even when you were surrounded by people. And then, that moment hits you when you miraculously connect with someone else- through all the fear, uncertainty, concern, worry, and doubt, you somehow manage to connect deeply with another human being, and you are forever changed because of that interaction- that's what this movie is all about.

The cast is excellent. Logan Lerman reminds us of the promise he showed earlier in his career. He's working hard to transition from a child actor to a real actor, and this film will certainly help him achieve that. He gives a raw, memorable performance here, and I thoroughly enjoyed him in the lead role. He's sweet but naive, goofy and relatable. He's the kind of person you can see yourself in, no matter who you are. His performance was vital for the film, and he delivers. I also very much enjoyed Emma Watson- this is the film that proves she can have a successful career outside of the Harry Potter franchise. She gives a very mature yet naively troubled performance. She worked well with Lerman and was enjoyable to watch. Now, while I very much liked Lerman and Watson, I believe Ezra Miller gives the best performance of the film. He was funny, charismatic, energetic, and truly a joy to watch on screen. I did not expect to like him more than anyone else, but I did. The triumvirate of Lerman, Watson, and Miller makes this movie well worth seeing. The three of them were wonderful together, and their friendship is the heart of the film. The supporting cast was good and had some big names (Paul Rudd makes a bigger impact than any of the other supporters), but this movie is really about the kids.

I loved how this story puts the audience into the early 1990s- from mixed tapes to the clothes, everything just seemed different back then. It was an interesting time to grow up, and it was fun to see that depicted on screen. I loved the emotional story that unfolded on screen. The story is about finding a place to fit in and belong. It's about being true to who you are, even when most people won't accept that. It's about first love, and how the people you meet when you're young can vastly shape who you are for the rest of your life. All of that is tremendous, but the film doesn't stop there. The movie also touches on some deeper emotional issues. The film tackles homosexuality and acceptance, as well as the emotional scars that come from sexual abuse. It's rare to find a film that isn't afraid to touch on difficult, challenging issues, while also telling a beautiful love story in the middle of a coming-of-age narrative. I felt like this film had a little bit of everything, which was wonderful.

While many aspects of this film can be found in other films, what sets The Perks of Being a Wallflower apart is the storytelling. We have these believable, multidimensional characters who we quickly learn to love. We see them struggle with the daily challenges of growing up in the 1990s. We see them find friends, lose friends, fall in love, have their hearts broken, and grow up in surprising ways. This movie never resorts to the melodramatic- real life is dramatic enough in many ways. This movie tells a beautiful, emotional story, and that's the reason I found it so compelling.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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