Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) by Neville P — 21 Aug 2013

Heartwarming, absolutely charming and unforgettable, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern coming-of-age masterpiece. Funny, sincere and quite nostalgic, this piece of cinematographic art captures the uncertainty, the tragedy, and the sweetness of the young adolescence in a brilliant and unforgettable way.

Exploiting an overused concept and in spite of somehow the formulaic plot, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a true art-house gem. Centered on the first year of the introvert and insecure teenager Charlie (Logan Lerman), the movie tells the story of a small group of strange, yet unique, high-school students. A story about romantic love, angst, loss, unforgettable moments with friends and hope, this movie differs from other coming-of-age deliveries with its charm, down-to-earth performances and sincerity. It seems familiar, it evokes the feelings of "been there, gone through that" in a tender and engaging way, without even having a specific plot direction, time or period setting. Directing debutant Stephen Chbosky touches the audience's sentimentality, spices up the story with a solid portion of nostalgia and simply lets the brilliant cast perform freely as they are really themselves.

A very truthful movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower would never have been that unforgettable if it was not for its cast. Mostly unknown (or unnoticed so far, with exception for Emma Watson), the young cast is awkward, truly sympathetic and every character evokes affection by his or her own way. Emma Watson is driven and emotionally strong, Logan Lerman is awkward, expressive and fragile, while Ezra Miller delivers another unorthodox performance after his strange appearance in We Need to Talk about Kevin. The combination of these three young actors , results in one of the most charming young on-screen-trios seen in a movie.