The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

IMDb Top 250 Ranking - #250

This film was adapted from the cult-smash-novel of the same name and as a reviewer who read and loved the book before the seeing the film I can promise you, this lives up to any expectations and wishes you could have had. This is perhaps, of course, because the writer of the novel is also the writer and director of the film – he saw this beautiful project through to the end and he didn't let anything ruin its vision. As you can tell, I love both the book and the film with an intense and bordering-on over-the-top passion, so I’m sorry, but be warned, I will review this film with absolute bias. In my opinion it deserves no less…

Let’s start with its premise. We begin our story with 16-year old introvert Charlie played by the hugely talented upcoming-star Logan Lerman, who writes a letter to a stranger describing his fears and lamenting the torture of high school. He writes this letter in the hope that someone can exist that cares without judgement and fear of his past or his character. It’s a hopeful idea and its charming naivete is a theme which is carried throughout the film. For much of the film these letters are shown through a voice-over provided by Lerman, who describes his efforts to live life, with the help and encouragement of his two friends and confidantes Patrick (Ezra Miller, who you may recognize from the critically acclaimed We Need to Talk about Kevin) and Sam (Emma Watson). This is where our story begins and the many rises and falls that can be expected from day-to-day high school life are recorded with a refreshing originality and zest that I haven’t seen in a “coming-of-age” film for a very long time. Some of the highlights include an exploration of drugs, alcohol, sexual abuse, the minefield of first-relationships and love at first sight, homophobia, rejection and, above all, the fear that we haven’t been noticed. Or, as Chbosky (writer, director and all-round genius) so eloquently and charmingly puts it, a wallflower.

It’s such a fitting description of every person’s fear. I do mean every person, though in this film it is explored within the realm of teen-hood. To be a wallflower is both a blessing and a curse, or at least that is my impression from the film. The wallflower is often the best type of person, but that quality of ‘best-ness’ about them is hidden beneath a shy and vulnerable exterior that even the most talented coaxer will struggle to break through. (Shrek’s onion scene comes to mind at this point – a funny but oddly fitting comparison to make, I think). This is where Lerman’s immense talent is channelled, and he expresses the awkwardness and beauty of the wallflower with an understated eloquence. He isn't overly self-conscious and he doesn't exaggerate his characters goofy charm, he just seems to live the character on screen. 


Though the film, from my description thus far, may seem like a depressing coming-of-age teen drama, it is truly anything but. Serious issues are dealt with and handled by both the cast and the crew of this film with maturity and grace and the high-dose of comedy provided mainly by the “fag-hag” duo Patrick and Sam save this film from becoming an over-sentimental teen drama. I feel that’s a very important fact that you should know about this film. Yes, serious issues are dealt with and yes, they are handled in a setting which just screams ‘damn-this-is-gonna-be-so-cheesy’, but I promise you cheese and overly-sentimental dialogue don’t exist within this film. The cast and the immensely talented creator save this film from that fate. Instead we have something beautiful and heart-warming and heart-breaking and real. 

Another aspect of this film I must heap with praise is its soundtrack. If you read the novel then you would know that the music that Charlie and his unique friends surround themselves with is a huge part of their self-expression and self-discovery, so it stands-to-reason that Chbosky would place a huge amount of emphasis on this within the film. This is where the talented Michael Brooks comes in, who acted as musical supervisor to the film and compiled a soundtrack of 80s and 90s classics that express wonderfully each emotion and feeling that our protagonist feels throughout the film. It is through the music that we can perhaps best understand our semi-tragic protagonist and the blend of rock and ballad throughout guides us blissfully to the films wonderful and heart-wrenching conclusion.

Best Line: (FAR too many to choose from)

Sam: Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing?
Charlie: We accept the love we think we deserve.

To cut a long story short…
Would I recommend this? Hell yes (that’s as good a recommendation you’ll get from me ever, I’d wager). 
A film ramblers star rating? 

That’s it for now folks…