“Wallflower” Has Plenty of Perks
The plot of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” surrounds a 16 year old freshman named Charlie, played by Logan Lerman, who has no friends and is just trying to survive high school. He comes with a lot of baggage, and the film has quite a few twists.
He befriends two seniors: a nice girl named Sam, played by the biggest name in the film, Emma Watson, and her gay step brother, Patrick, beautifully played by Ezra Miller.
They eat together and laugh. They go for long rides in a pickup truck, listening to loud music, and other cheesy stuff that everyone did at 16 and might still do now. They play truth or dare, and yet they are all dealing with such real issues.
The standout role in this was supposed to be Watson and, if not her, then maybe the lead, Lerman, but, alas, it is the best friend steals the show.
Miller plays a gay teen navigating dating and relationships. He is hilarious, tortured, and caring, all in one. A big thank you to someone who finally made the ‘gay best friend’ role into something real and complex.
Watson has some good moments, but overall I think this was her just trying to go to a normal high school for a few months, but she just can’t be bothered to show up. Her character is flat. She is supposed to be slutty but you don’t quite believe her.
Kudos to Watson for not playing a stripper, drug addict, or nun in the aftermath of “Harry Potter,” but this role will hopefully just be a stepping stone to something more powerful.
Now for the lead of the movie, who looks like he’s in a school play the whole time. Maybe they should have hired someone who is actually a nerd. We recognize our own kind, and this kid is not a nerd. Slouching doesn’t make you bullied.
The writing is dead on, but Lerman saying the lines feels fake. Is he mocking someone? Not to mention, you just are yelling at the screen for him to get with right girl the entire time you’re watching. This kid even looks like he works out, so there’s no way he would read for fun. He is supposed to be completely broken and lost. The acting is just not there.
A couple of cameos are worth mentioning. Mary Elizabeth is another friend, a punk and a Buddhist, played by Mae Whitman, who you will see again soon in something amazing.
Playing the part of an inspiring English teacher is Paul Rudd. It’s a surprise to see him in a role that he’s not doing something awkward in, but he has just the right amount of cheese to make Charlie seem a little more human.
This film has a lot of funny and sad parts that keep you caring about the characters until the very end. Get ready to think about what you were like at 16.
Bottom line: this is definitely worth paying to see on the big screen, not for a date night, but bring a good friend.