Special Review
This review was requested by Patreon support JacksJD. If you'd like to support me on Patreon, click the button below. Visit PatreonIn 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a coming-of-age novel by Stephen Chbosky, was published by Pocket Books. Incorporating some of his own experiences in high school, the book was the publisher’s highest-selling book at the time. While the book had a mixed reception, it later developed a cult following and Chbosky started getting film offers. Chbosky wanted to make a film adaptation, but he turned down several offers given how personal the story was. In 2010, John Malcovich’s Mr. Mudd Productions acquired the rights, and they allowed Chbosky to write and direct the film. For the leads, they hired Logan Lerman from the Percy Jackson series and Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame. After roughly two months of filming in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, the film was re-edited to receive a PG-13 rating. In September of 2012, the film version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower was released.
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Synopsis
Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a young man suffering from clinical depression that’s about to enter freshman year of high school. He’s very shy, awkward, and has trouble making friends, though he likes his English teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd). During a football game, he meets seniors/siblings Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who become his friends. Soon, Charlie grows closer to Sam and Patrick and meets their friends Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman) and Alice (Erin Wilhelmi). They bond over their shared love of indie music and attending/participating in screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Over time, Charlie starts having flashes of his Aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey), which also triggers blackout moments of rage/anger. He has his ups and downs throughout high school: finding love, losing friends, defending his friends, and his ever-growing depression. High school is just one step into the rest of Charlie’s life.
Review
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very touching and heartfelt coming-of-age story perfect for today’s generation. Even though the film is set in the early 90s, much like The Breakfast Club, anyone can relate to it. First off, for a first-time director, Chbosky’s direction is simple but effective, giving the film a real homegrown feel. The use of shadows and a muted color scheme perfectly complement the rather somber and downhome tone of the film. The cast is fantastic, with Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller all shining in their lead roles. Lerman makes for a very sympathetic and likable lead who has his moments of weakness and expertly depicts depression. He has great chemistry with Miller and Watson, though her notable British accent occasionally slips through but not significantly. Also, Paul Rudd, Tom Savini, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, and Joan Cusack shine in their small roles.
Much like the best of John Hughes, this film deals with some issues that are relevant to any audience. Admittedly, some of these issues aren’t handled too well, such as suicide, which is brought up and quickly glossed over. But for the most part, the film handles themes of depression, isolation, friendship, and young love very well. Also of note is how the film handles its gay character Patrick, who is openly gay but not too stereotypical. The film depicts him as very realistic and fun-loving despite feeling rejected by his peers, including his football player boyfriend. While the movie is very funny at times thanks to its dialogue and cast, it can also be very serious. Thankfully, it’s not the kind of serious that feels manipulative or overly emotional, and it has a quick 103-minute runtime. Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a fantastic examination of adolescence.
Buy The Perks of Being a Wallflower from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eYz9SM
