Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Set in the early 90s (pre-internet, and mixed tapes were still a thing. Boy do I remember this period!), Logan Lerman stars as a 15 year-old with a whole lot of problems, including coping with the suicide of someone close, his own mental illness, an older sister (Nina Dobrev) whose boyfriend is physically abusive, as well as an overall feeling of not fitting in with his peers, and memories of a deceased Aunt (Melanie Lynskey) that still haunt him, and slowly reveal something very disturbing. A lifeline is thrown this young man’s way in the form of Ezra Miller and Emma Watson, two non-conformist step-siblings and all-round music snobs, who take the troubled, lonely kid into their fold. He also enjoys a student-mentor relationship with an easygoing English teacher (Paul Rudd), who gives him novels to read. Unfortunately, Lerman’s psychological issues aren’t going away, in fact, they may just cause him to crack. Johnny Simmons is a jock who is secretly dating the openly gay Miller, Dylan McDermott and Kate Walsh are Lerman’s clueless parents, Mae Whitman is the ‘Buddhist punk’ girl who is sweet on him (while his heart truly yearns for Watson), Tom Savini is a short-tempered ‘shop’ teacher who has it in for Miller, and Joan Cusack appears at the end as a doctor.

Although some of the characters initially grated on me with their pretentiousness and snobbery, I ultimately found myself rather moved (unexpectedly so) by this 2012 film from writer/author/director Stephen Chbosky (So, presumably it’s a faithful adaptation of his novel). It’s got a lot more going on than the average coming-of-age/teen movie, dealing with several rather heavy issues without becoming too depressing. The film isn’t telling you anything new about the high school experience, but by dabbling in darker areas from time to time, the film stands out. Hell, it probably gets the high school experience closer to its reality than many other films, especially if you’re a nonconformist like these kids. To that darkness, it ends up really delivering a kick to the guts, but it’s entirely seamless, it doesn’t seem to ring false or feel jarring. It’s always there, lurking in the shadows.

Logan Lerman is excellent in the lead, this character ultimately reveals himself to be heartbreakingly sad and troubled. You care for him and really, really worry about him throughout. Emma Watson gives the only good performance of her career thus far, and Ezra Miller is ideal, if rather annoying. These two characters are a bit ‘too cool for school’ for my liking (Miller’s character is kind of a twat, really), especially early on. And would high school students in the 90s really put on a performance at midnight screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”? Really? I very highly doubt it).

However, they ultimately prove immensely appealing through their acceptance of Logan, and their obvious affection for him. I’m not sure I buy Watson and Miller befriending a student from a year below them, but that’s a minor quibble. When the pretentiousness and music snobbery (I’m convinced that no one is really a fan of The Smiths, people have likely mistaken them for The Cure, The Saints, or The Clash) is stripped away for a few scenes between Lerman and Watson, they prove to be normal, relatable, if troubled characters. In fact, Watson will likely remind many of you of that cool girl in school. No, not the popular cheerleader-type, but just ‘cool’.

I also found Paul Rudd more appealing than I had previously thought possible, as Lerman’s friendly, laidback English teacher (He might remind you of Kevin Kline in affable, good guy mode). I would’ve liked a few more scenes with him, hell I wish he were my Englishh teacher. Makeup man extraordinaire Tom Savini is hilarious as Rudd’s polar opposite, an arsehole woodwork teacher. The most startling casting choice is Melanie Lynskey as a character darker than anything she has played since “Heavenly Creatures”. She’s spot-on, though, because her innate sweetness may prove to be something far more sinister. She’s the real kick in the guts here.

Slightly annoying, especially early on, the film eventually settles down and delivers some real truths about high school and wanting to belong, but with a dark underbelly threatening to boil over. I almost did a complete 180^O on this one. I started out not liking it, thinking the characters were pretentiously quirky, and slowly but surely, the film completely won me over. Terrific performances by the three leads in particular, this one’s a real winner.

One final quibble: The characters are music snobs, yet they are unaware of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and Watson loves Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ abominable one-hit wonder ‘C’mon Eileen’? I didn’t buy that for a second, the latter especially (Perhaps people only discover Bowie in their 20s, I’m too old now to remember). Music snobs do not embrace one-hit wonders generally, especially one of the worst songs of all-time like that one. Is she a fan of Plastic Bertrand too? Hayzee Fantayzee? Kajagoogoo, perhaps? And if you’re a fan of The Smiths and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, believe me, you know David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’. Sorry, but it just bothered the crap out of me.

Rating: B