I can't quite remember how I ended up watching this movie. I think a few of my friends recommended it, and I thought, 'why not?'
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an interesting film, at times cliche or awkward, but often powerful in the way it deals with the heavier subject matter it contains.
Logan Lerman plays the introverted Charlie, a freshman highschool student with a seemingly undending number of tragedies in his past. He's taken under the wing of seniors Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who introduce him to new people, help him make new friends, and generally bring him out of his shell.
There's a few missteps in the film; Emma Watson's accent is weak, which is a shame because the rest of her performance is a joy to watch. The characterisation is a little unbelievable; it's not enough that these people have had something bad happen to them, they seem to have every bad thing that could possibly happen to them. I won't be specific for those who want to see it but haven't, but it seemed like every ten minutes, one of the characters would reveal another awful thing that had happened to them. It's terrible that these things happened to these characters, to be sure, and to an extent it helps the film build investment in them, but it stretches credulity based on the sheer number of times an awful thing is revealed. The narration also feels out of place; it makes it feel obvious that the film was based on a book, like there was no way the director could come up with an alternative way to convey this information.
That said, there's a lot to like about this film, chief among these being the acting. I've already mentioned Watson, who manages to carry an effective role despite her accent. Lerman is also great in a subtle way; he fits the position of a 'wallflower', and in the deeper and harder moments of the film shows real range. A highlight from him is a scene following his sister's boyfriend hitting her and then leaving. The tension in the scene is real, and it's largely to due Lerman and how well he works in the scene with Charlie's sister (Nina Dobrev). The best performance, however, is from Miller. He takes to his character with aplomb, theatrical without being over the top, charming but gangly, and natural in his more serious moments.
The subject matter is serious, and the revelations of the characters don't seem particularly profound to me personally, but I can see their importance to the people who are around the same age as the characters. Charlie learns a lot about friendship drugs, sex, and finding his identity. What's more writer/director Stephen Chbosky knows how to show it; the emotions, the tougher moments, they're all delivered with skilled tension. One scene in particular, a cafeteria fight, I found to be hugely impactful. It contrasts with the films instances of awkward narration.
The Verdict: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a really good film with a few missteps as it tells its story. Slightly forced character development is supported by excellent performances and a solemn consideration of deep subject matter. The people that will get the most out of this are teenage and young adult audiences; others may find the revelations of the characters a little contrived.
Rating: 7/10
Watched January 10th, 2016, Published July 6th, 2016
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