The Perks of Being A Wallflower is a character-driven drama about the musings of a loner, suffering his way through high school, coping with first love and a dark secret with a little help from his friends. It sounds like a downward spiral of teenage angst, but The Perks of Being A Wallflower manages to overcome it’s love/hate relationship with misery, by nestling in the arms of high school romance.

It’s part Dead Poet’s Society and part Donnie Darko, as our protagonist’s journey weaves between the inspirations of an English teacher and a soul-searching quest for acceptance. Instead of Jake Gyllenhaal, we have Logan Lerman, whose dark path is both personal and generational. Instead of Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society, we have Paul Rudd in a role more comparable with Drew Barrymore in Donnie Darko for screen time.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower is naive and slightly disjointed, threading memories together as if torn from the pages of a high school journal. While not intentional, this actually works in favour of the film, mirroring Charlie’s state of mind. Writer, director and author, Stephen Chbosky, must have a special place for this time of his life,  having also delved into the era with his directorial debut, The Four Corners of Nowhere.

“All together now… ♫We are fa-mi-ly!♫”

Chbosky has assembled a cast of next generation stars, including Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller and Emma Watson. Logan Lerman may be better known for his starring role in Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, but this young talent shows remarkable range and potential in this mature leading role. He tempers the recklessness of youth, composing a character who’s sincerity and naivety make him detached, yet likable.

He’s supported by Ezra Miller as Patrick, a troubled senior, who’s offbeat character helps create a range of funny and dead serious moments. Many will recognise Miller from We Need to Talk About Kevin, a controversial role that will haunt him for many films to come. However, while an outsider, Patrick is a great point of departure for the young actor – who is oddly reminiscent of a young Edward Furlong.

However, the biggest change of pace is from Emma Watson, who appears in The Perks of Being A Wallflower after a long stretch as Hermoine in the Harry Potter saga. The young actress is trying to loosen the shackles of that staple character, who although not as defining as Harry Potter himself, will take some undoing. Her role as Sam shows that she’s more than capable, handling a rather complex romantic interest, without flinching.

“Here’s the thing, my pick-up lines don’t have punchlines.”

The triumvirate knit the film together with solid performances, adding earnest, well-rounded characters to the mix and grounding Chbosky’s adaptation with real emotional weight. It’s unlike most high school romance dramas, since the geek and jock stereotypes are deconstructed with a blur of reality. The story is rather elemental, pouring from one mold to another, relying on quality of character and depth of performance for gravity.

While The Perks of Being A Wallflower seems rooted in the mix tapes era, the film feels out of time thanks to a reliance on classic high school themes and motiffs. The soundtrack reverberates between David Bowie, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, Air Supply, Crowded House and Dexys Midnight Runners, defining mood and an alternative sampling of music over the ’80s and ’90s. Ironically, it’s David Bowie’s version of Heroes and not The Wallflowers that made the cut as ‘the song’.

All in all, The Perks of Being A Wallflower is recommended viewing. Strong performances add glue to the puzzle, cementing all the pieces together to represent a naive, nostalgic and alienating age that will resonate on many levels. While a little slow-moving and disjointed at times, the film fits into the same angst-ridden territory as Dead Poet’s Society and Donnie Darko with the same pensive drama, teenage romance and dull inspiration.

The bottom line: Staid

Release date: 4 January, 2013
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