Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) by Alyssapetti — 14 Oct 2018

Perks of Being A Wallflower is one of the best coming-of-age film. Most movies tend to not follow their novel origins; however, Perks of Being a Wallflower is extremely precise on the perspectives of high school in comparison to the novel. Perks of Being A Wallflower showcases topics that high schools don’t disclose with students and families, such as abortion, teen pregnancy, sex, coming out, and sexual assault. One scene includes Candace, Charlie’s sister, undergoing an abortion out of fear from her abusive boyfriend. As I discovered this blooper and compared it with the storyline, the tension and emotion that Lerman has for Dobrev in the motion picture was notably peculiar. In the novel, Charlie and Candace’s relationship is not that close until she receives the abortion. Compared to the film, the viewer can see the familial love for one another, which is a defining moment in their relationship.When I was researching reviews, I noticed how the comments attacked the film’s focus on high school. From what I have gathered, adults ages 45 and up gave this flick a 7 or lower star rating. I assumed that the critiques could potentially be based on the reviewers age and time era difference. Most of the critiques that gave it a 1 star wanted more drama and less teen angst. Regardless, the director had to place several scenes in bloopers due to controversial topics that include suicide and abortion. Because of this, filmmakers felt their stakeholders, who are teenagers, couldn’t see the movie if it was rated R. To follow-up, it seems that those who felt that the drama wasn’t included in the flick did not read the book. The drama contained in both the novel is also included in the film’s bloopers.The questioning of mental health in teenagers is primarily shown in this film by the declination of Charlie’s mental health. Originally, the movie was supposed to start with Charlie’s longtime friend committing suicide, which will foreshadow Charlie’s attempt. Throughout the film, you begin to see how Charlie suffers from anxiety and depression due to sexual assault from his Aunt. The evidence of his mental health decline builds its way up until the climax of Charlie attempting suicide after Patrick and his love interest, Sam, left for college. The author wanted to make the point that teens can go through rough stages in their life and can overcome them, despite their attempts to end their life. When I was researching, Psychology Today posted an article on how impactful Perks of Being A Wallflower was on Skip Dine’s, Ph.D. psychology students. Although clinical psychologists criticize this film, Dine attributes this article to Dan McAdams, who is a personality psychologist, this film helps people/adolescents discover who they are and how the memories they forge in high school contribute to that essential realization/ ultimate coming of age. He then describes the picture as the modern day Breakfast Club,but a little more serious.

What does this mean for Perks of Being A Wallflower? The best coming-of-age film to watch should be based on the accuracy of the novel and the realistic view of mental health. This movie covers all of it as Chbosky presents it to a population that usually doesn’t have a voice: young adults.