Film Review : The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Director: Stephen Chbosky  /  Producer: John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Lianne Halfon

Rated: PG-13  /  Cast: Logan Lerman (Charlie), Emma Watson (Sam), Ezra Miller (Patrick), Nina Dobrev (Candace), Mae Whitman (Mary Elizabeth), Paul Rudd (Mr. Anderson), Kate Walsh (Mother), Dylan McDermott (Father), Johnny Simmons (Brad), Reece Thompson (Craig)

Distributor: Summit Entertainment  /  Running Time: 102 Minutes

Writer and director Stephen Chbosky adapts his own hit young adult novel in The Perks of Being A Wallflower – and thankfully for our sake, the Director knows his story well. 

The film places it’s audience into Charlie’s first days at a his new Pittsburgh area High School in the Fall of 1991. The enigmatic, handsome loner played by Logan Lerman (3:10 to Yuma) can’t seem to make friends – seemingly for A) his uncool choice in clothing (see one three piece suit), B) lofty literary choices as a Freshmen (see The Great Gatsby) or, C) Charlie’s reclusive nature due to both his beloved Aunt Helen’s (Melanie Lynskey) life-taking car accident or his best friend committing suicide the Summer prior to school –  in any case, Charlie can’t win for trying. However, during a particularly dreary Fall Season, Charlie manages to befriend Sam and Patrick to help bring “the island of misfit toys” together at last.

Through narration, over the course of the follow school year, Charlie dictates letters he writes to a mysterious, unseen recipient. Perks’ audiences are treated to the highs and lows of a coming-of-age-drama which keeps revolving past all-too-familiar subject matter in an inventive and sincere character driven story that manages to steer clear from being safe and laid-back. At the end of it all, Perks is simply a story about finding one’s true self.

Anchored by strong performances, POBAW is a movie about the deep feelings and pains of growing; this is cast spot-on to take the challenge and delivers with flying colors. 

Logan Lerman’s Charlie is extremely smart and desperatly-sensitive without going too whiney-emo.  From beginning to end, a wonderful character journey is portrayed which ultimately pays off nicely during the film’s Second Act ending sequence; watching Lerman work, the audience is left constantly wanting to root for the film’s main character until the very end. Not having seen this young actor prior, it will be well-welcomed to see whatever project is up next this talent. 

Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin) shows the quick-witted and gay senior-class jokester Patrick who takes Charlie under his wing – such sincerity of character hasn’t been shown in a student-life film since Almost Famous. 

Harry Potter star Emma Watson gives the audience exactly what they want….something far away from Hogwarts. Watson is totally committed as the  unobtainable love interest Sam. Intelligence, sexiness and kindness ooze from the actress, which only amps the tension and intensity of the unspoken “Pink Elephant” in the room between Sam and our story’s main character.   

Director Stephen Chbosky, manages to mingle the hazy late 80’s and early 90’s  well without making the story completely of a different time period. Cinematographer Andrew Dunn (Crazy, Stupid, Love) draws tight shots during intimate and tension filled scenes while recognizing emotionally worn characters by showing wider and less focussed images – a look at the big picture, if you will. The soundtrack is well-chosen and used throughout the film – so well in fact, the Casting Department should probably get paid extra for it’s usage. 

Altogether, Chboksy has created a film that’s touching and heartfelt without stumbling over the tipping point. The Perks of Being A Wallflower film unveils the inner lives of teens as they are affected by the human condition during a time of life that is fragile. This film is quite solid and worth viewing but may not be remembered quite as well as it’s Best Seller counterpart. 

 ~ Matt Miles, Producer of Fresh Roasted Films