Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Directed by Stephen Chbosky

Written by Stephen Chbosky (screenplay and novel)

Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Paul Rudd

          Based on the critically acclaimed novel written by Stephen Chbosky, comes another film revolving around high school students- although, this time it isn't awful. Perks of Being a Wallflower centers around a group of teenagers who consider themselves "outsiders" and embrace their non-conformist status. This film will have you reminiscing on your social status from high school and convincing yourself that you were also an outsider like Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller- because they make not following the status quo look desirable. Anyone who read the book will love the movie adaptation, considering the books author also wrote the screenplay. 

     Set in the 1990's, the story begins with the quiet and reserved, Charlie (Logan Lerman) entering his freshman year of high school. Charlie enters high school feeling alienated and with his head down, with that scary question we all probably faced at one point in our adolescence: what table do I sit at during lunch? He is quickly embraced by two sympathetic seniors; the highly sarcastic and lovable Patrick (Ezra Miller) and the mysteriously beautiful, Sam (Emma Watson). Patrick and Sam (who are half siblings much to Charlie's surprise) take pity on the shy, dorky freshman and begin to take him under their wings as they attend football games and parties. Eventually we see Charlie fall into their inner circle, and even starts dating the punk buddhist, Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman)- despite his enormous crush on Sam, who has a boyfriend. While Charlie finds himself more adapted into this friend group, we still see remittence of something darker lurking in the back of Charlie's mind. He has a lot of ghosts from his past, and when things start to look poorly with his new friends, he struggles to hold on to his composure. 

    This movie serves as a sort of "coming-out" for Emma Watson as she tries to distance herself from Hermione Granger- and move on to other roles. Her portrayal of Sam shows her true potential as an actress and was incredible to watch. Watson is given more range with this character, and occasionally upstages Logan Lerman with her performance. Lerman plays the troubled teenager who is stricken with love and blinded by the beauty of Sam. It only makes sense that Watson would upstage Lerman, because Charlie is caught in the gravitational pull of Sam's star like qualities. Ezra Miller plays a very likable, very gay character and does an impressive job. Like many teenage movies, Perks of Being a Wallflower is riddled with familiar names playing the adults in the movie. The most notable being Paul Rudd, as Charlie's english teacher. We also see supporting roles from, Dylan McDermott and Joan Cusack. 

     The cinematic translation of this film from the novel- should leave fans of the book very satisfied. Even those who didn't read the book will fall in love with this movie. Its emotional, heartwarming, and even has a sprinkling of humor within its sometimes dark dialogue. A movie about teenagers that everyone needs to see. Current teenagers can relate, adults will feel nostalgia. 

I give Perks of Being a Wallflower a...

8/10