The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower was a bit of a classic for me as well as for many people who were a child of 90's and teen of the 2000's. Published in 1999, it is a poignant story of a high school freshman on the precipice of adolescence. Unlike so many books that are filled with a tone that is both self righteous as well as self pitying, Perks reads as a brutally honest telling of one boy's struggle with personal growth and traumas of the past. The hero isn't looking for pity or validation in his struggles; his story telling is therapeutic and lacks the pretension that so many young adult characters manifest. This narrator doesn't pretend to know it all.


Perks is a short but powerful story and I have been looking forward to finally taking in the film adaptation. I went to an early evening showing of the film with my best friend from high school. If you haven't seen the movie yet and want to, I would recommend going with someone who you treasure from your past. This movie is the perfect platform for reminiscing.

Overall, I would give the film an A. I'm a tough critic and I truly loved this film. It is directed by the author of the book, Stephen Chbosky and is one of the best adaptations of a book that I have ever seen...as to be expected when the author of the book is also directing the movie. The acting is superb. Logan Lerman who plays the protagonist, Charlie, is absolutely perfect. I would definitely hope to see more work from him in the near future. Emma Watson, making her first step following Harry Potter also gives a strong performance. It was entertaining to listen to her very solid rendition of an American accent.  The filming really plays homage to the early 90's decade that the story unfolds in through everything from soundtrack and clothing to even the use of a dimmer lighting, extremely reminiscent of the grunge era.

The story being told here is one that I truly believe anyone can find a bit of themselves in. It deals with real issues and is a great movie for discussing afterwards. Sometimes, with movies centered around high school or teenagers, I feel like the focus is on delivering to that specific age group and leaves nothing for the rest of the viewers. With this movie, I don't believe it matters what decade you were a high school student in or what clique you were a part of- this movie was meant to speak to everyone about a time of life that fundamentally shapes us all. Whether you're still living high school or it's been decades since you've walked the halls, there is something worth watching and appreciating in this movie for everyone.