The Perks of Being a Wallflower

What's it about?

15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman), an endearing and naive outsider, is coping with first love, the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness, all while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs. The introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), who welcome him to the real world.

What we thought:

When you watch the trailer for Perks and you see that it's done by the same team that produced Juno, you immediately want to jump up in your seat and really watch the movie.

But alas, if only it was a promise that paid off.

Writer-director Stephen Chbosky took one of the greatest risks in Hollywood by not only adapting his own novel into the screenplay for the film – but directing it as well. That Chbosk's previous directing credits include just one low-budget film from 1995 makes it even more of a risk – and it shows.

However, this is Chbosky's first time penning down a script, as he has stepped out as screenwriter on the film version of musical Rent, as well as the short-lived action TV series Jericho.

Coming of age tale Perks of Being A Wallflower is another prospect entirely and what the movie does accomplish to get right, in a weird, unexpected way if I might add, is the script.

The script seems flawless at times, filled with many jabs and quotable quotes that teens will go crazy over. It tells a story that in its essence, is relatable. It works. It’s seemingly perfect.

But when it comes to putting these magical words into actions, Perks falls apart. It may have been that some of the cast lacked the depth to comprehend the script (this was evident in their facial expressions).

The flow of the movie was fast paced at times, but suddenly came to a halt at times to focus more on the (incomprehensible) facial expressions. But, looking at the cast... It was a weird selection.

It ranges from up and coming stars in Hollywood, your average C-listers and the obvious picks.

Logan Lerman and Emma Watson may produce a rather "okay" on-screen romance as Charlie and Sam, but Lerman's awkward character is perhaps too awkward at times.

Even is his scenes with Kate Walsh and Dylan McDermott, who play his parents in the movie, there seems to be a jarring disconnect from reality. Their acting and chemistry seem too transparent at times.

I also have to praise Emma Watson somewhat. This being Emma’s first major role after Harry Potter and seeing her attempt an American accent is also something worth seeing. She was about the only cast member that understood her character. She has really stepped out to become a young star that will surprise us all in the future.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower had the potential to be so much more. Looking at the end product, one is left satisfied at the least. But, it also has you asking: Is that the best you had?