Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller

Literature and film are two artistic formants that have a tendency to borrow from one another. Some of the greatest movies of all time are adaptations of classic literature, and while the transition from film to book is not as common it does happen on occasion. Switching formats presents an abundance of inherit challenges. Even in the best examples certain foundations are lost when old material is presented in a new way. The key is to replace those foundations with the innate functions of the new format. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a perfect example of how effective this adaptation process can be. Originally a novel it was adapted for the big screen last year. Part of the film’s success can be contributed to the fact it was written and directed by the author of the source novel Stephen Chbosky. Placing the source material in fresh hands would allow for a new interpretation. However letting the originator take full control does help ensure its true meaning and purpose are transferred fully. Giving quality material to an inexperienced director does not always lead to success. Fortunately Chbosky did a solid job on all fronts in crafting one of the best coming of age tales in recent memory.

When people of my generation think of coming of age movies the first person that often comes to mind is John Hughes. He had the capability to speak directory to a generation of teens still trying to find themselves, while at the same time he incorporated enough universal truths his films transcended their time to remain relevant decades later. While it is clearly far too early to anoint Chbosky the new John Hughes or forecast where his career path will take him. It can be stated that The Perks of Being a Wallflower comes off as a film that will only grow in appreciation as time passes. It too has universality appeal to its narrative and a wiliness to be a beacon to those souls that often go unnoticed. Not that this is a prop piece for the discontent outcasts of high school. Instead it celebrates individuality and our need for community without pandering to a niche crowd.

The story follows Charlie an alienated freshmen who is attending high school for the first time. His intellectual superiority and shy demeanor have isolated him away from the rest of his classmates. His life changes when two seniors see his plight and integrate him into their group of friends. Patrick and his stepsister Sam, played by Ezra Miller and Emma Watson, have created a tightknit collective of close and loving friends who have been ostracized by the majority of their peers. Perhaps the best aspect of the film is the abundance of quality characters. They are all unique, interesting, and cannot be pigeon held into the archetypal stereotypes we tend to expect with this genre. It did not sacrifice authenticity in order to be provocative or to create outlandish characters. Each felt real and was made more complex through well-crafted layering.

Part of what made the characters work so well was the cavalcade of great performances. Ezra Miller and Emma Watson shined as two of the strongest supporting characters. Miller provided a great amount of comic relief and heart as the esoteric Patrick, who also functioned as the de facto leader of the group. Patrick was clearly the extrovert ying to Charlie’s introvert yang, and they form a natural bond of friendship through their ability to relate towards one another. Logan Lerman who played Charlie was equally as impressive. He aided in his character’s development by giving a reserved performance that would evolve when necessary. Not to be outdone was Emma Watson as Sam. Coming off the heels of the Harry Potter franchise does provide some challenges for her. Based on her performance in this her career is just getting started. Often when someone tries to break away from a certain image they do so by playing a role that is viewed as their complete opposite. (Think Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls) This role for Watson is very much the opposite of what we have come to expect, but not in the blunt and obvious way. She deals with the topics of sexuality in relationships in a matter of fact way rather than making it the focal point of who she is.

When someone says they are able to relate to a film it is often based upon sharing similar life experiences. With this it is not similarity that makes the film relatable . It is Stephen Chbosky and the cast’s steadfastness in developing a narrative that mirrors reality in a genuine way. Though this is not an autobiographic tale it feels like one. Sure there are certain components that seem larger than life, like the group’s large stage productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yet even that works in the context of the story. Time and time again certain story elements came into play that had me worried we were traveling down wore down paths of familiar territory. Skepticism was transformed into optimism when it diverted into something fresh. For example Paul Rudd plays Charlie’s Advanced English teacher and instead of being this unrealistic life influence on Charlie he operates primarily as his motivator. He doesn’t change who Charlie is he simply encourages him to be a better writer by providing him novels to read. Through that act they form a bond and friendship. Nearly all the relationships were honest and sincere like this one.

The one problem the film does run into is having too many subplots and side stories. At times it was easy to get lost in the spinning circle of constant conflicts. If it cut a few of the smaller stories it could have used that time to enrich some of the main threads. Progression became bogged down in this quagmire of tangled storylines. When it shifts to the final climax things become more streamlined and that issue subsides. To the film’s credit it didn’t trivialize the difficulties the characters were facing simply because they were teenagers. Some of the darker issues it dealt with, like depression and abuse, are hinged on serious concerns that aren’t always associated with adolescents. It walked that tight line of not demeaning these characters but at the same time not making them too wise beyond their years.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower may go down as the starting point that launched a multitude of careers. If Stephen Chbosky in particular can continue to make films of this caliber he has a long lustrous career in front of him. In the end what this film excels at most was constructing a movie that can be appealing to nearly everyone on a deep level. Though the film takes place in the late eighties/early nighties the stylistic choices are so vague it doesn’t become beholden to a specific generation. So it can have the same impact on the teenagers of today or yesteryear. Without a doubt this is one of the most criminally underrated films of last year.