Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
My Rating: 4 stars
Well, I guess I’m on a bit of a theme this week—plenty of tortured, teenage, dramas. Although, neither of the movies this week are too dark or depressing to handle. They’re actually both very optimistic, even as they deal with intense emotional turmoil. This movie especially recognizes that even while high-school can be a battlefield of insecurity and bullying, you can find allies to help you through the struggle. It also shows that we all have a brighter future ahead if we let ourselves reach for it. I’d argue that this film is even darker in theme than Kings of Summer. It deals with mental illness, sexual identity, and various forms of abuse. But, I think that makes it all the more inspirational when the characters find their way through their troubles.
I was very charmed by this movie. All the characters have their own, unique struggles, and the actors who portray them are very charismatic. Logan Lerman plays the main character, Charlie. This character is the quiet type. He has some unstated emotional issues, and he’s just trying to keep his head down and move through high-school unnoticed. Ezra Miller (from We Need to Talk About Kevin) plays Charlie’s first friend, Patrick. He’s an upper-classman, but he’s also a bit of a misfit, and he doesn’t mind taking a younger student under his wing. Emma Watson plays Patrick’s foxy step-sister, Sam. She’s a pretty girl, but she’s let other people convince her that she isn’t very smart and doesn’t deserve happiness. You see this type all the time. People (usually boys) try to make this kind of spirited, vivacious girl feel small because, these girls make them feel insecure. It’s a tragedy. So, it’s really heartwarming to see these kids help each other along through this difficult time in their lives (and, not heartwarming in an overly-precious way).
This is a great movie, and I recommend it to most people. But, be warned, it does deal with a lot of pretty dark material. It’s not a family movie. Some of these high school troubles are much worse than just worrying that your crush doesn’t like you. Some kids deal with really serious issues and abuse. So, delicate souls might not enjoy this one. The posters make it look like a sweet, teenage romance. But, the story is much more serious than that. So, don’t approach this movie lightly.