MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

"The Perks of Being A Wallflower" is a beautiful film. It's that rare coming of age film that really challenges the viewer to experience a full emotional journey. If you come into this with an open heart and without prejudice, I believe you will be very touched by this film. Personally, I was so deeply affected that I felt physically ill towards the end. About halfway through, my eyes got watery and they stayed that way for the remainder of the film. Even afterward I was left emotionally bare trying to internally process what I saw.
Much of the film's success rests on the shoulders of young Logan Lerman. It's a heavy burden to carry, but he was definitely up to the challenge. As the introverted freshman Charlie, his performance is appropriately delicate and measured. It's an expertly subtle performance that belies his years and experience. Playing his new-found senior friends, Ezra Miller and Emma Watson are similarly outstanding. Miller is the more memorable of the two though, as he delivers a fearless interpretation of Patrick, an outgoing gay teenager. He brings the humour and devastates you in his dramatic moments as well. Somewhere in the middle of these opposing personalities lies Emma Watson's character Sam. As Patrick's stepbrother and Charlie's love interest, she plays a unique "manic pixie girl" with her sense of calm authenticity. The 3 of them together create a wonderful dynamic that shows the power of true friendship. They love each other unconditionally and form a much-needed support group as a bunch of "wallflowers". Often in these high school flicks, the characters are either nerds or popular kids. Unfortunately this ignores the presence of a larger group of misfits who simply choose to be the "average" teenager. The film's casting is genius as these 3 main characters are fashionable, good-looking and for the most part, well-liked. This is where the beauty of the script comes into play. While the trio seems perfectly normal on the outside, they all carry serious baggage that prevents them from reaching their full potential. It's a tough reminder of the life-altering scars that result from physical and emotional abuse of young people.
As this story unfolds, we really begin to admire these characters and root for their success and happiness. They refuse to let their pain define them and choose to persevere and endure. It's a great message for kids today, especially with the prevalence of bullying in schools. Overall, Stephen Chbosky did a fine job in directing and adapting his own writing for the big screen.

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