Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) by Jason F — 05 Jan 2014

Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller give incredibly authentic and convincing performances in this independent drama about the darker side of growing up. The fantastic thing about this film is that it succeeds where so many others have failed.

TV shows like 'My So Called Life' among others have given the commercialization of teen angst a concerted effort and have, up to this point, come up far short. Wallflower offers us a telling glimpse into a year in the life of a troubled teen trying to make friends and find a sense of belonging in a troubled world.

Time and thought are given to character development, background details and a well rounded screenplay. The storyline brings the characters to a place of optimism and grace in a way that isn't overly bubbly or fake.

Wallflower is a real film about real people struggling to settle into adulthood. Something that all of us probably wish we'd transitioned with a little more foresight and care.