Logan Lerman actually visited the movie theater and we got to see him up close and personal. Surprise!
Today, As I sat watching Perks of Being a Wallflower I had no idea my view of coming of age films would change so radically. In short, I hate these types of movies because it always contains some whiny teen depressed about not fitting in. However, the surprisingly complex Perks of Being a Wallflower delivered so much more than I was expecting.
The film, set in the 1990’s, tells the story of Charlie (Logan Lerman, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief), a passive aggressive, lonely high school freshman who has just gotten out of the hospital for crazy people and hopes to make a change this year. At this point I became interested in why such a normal, nice looking boy was coming out of the Cuckoo’s nest. The movie lets the audience see, in flashbacks, Charlie’s relationship with his aunt as a small boy and how in a horrific accident her car was crushed by a truck right after telling him that she will be right back with his Christmas present. Already, there is this tragedy and guilt in Charlie’s life that makes the audience understand his watery eyes, his trip to the mental hospital and his longing for acceptance.
His blackouts and bouts of violence also brings a dark element to the film not seen in typical teen movies. The fact that the film doesn’t shy away from this darkness is incredibly appealing and is surely the reason this small independent film has become so popular.
In the film, Charlie goes on to befriend Patrick (Ezra Miller), a flamboyant gay senior, and Sam (Emma Watson, Harry Potter), Patrick’s step-sister who has a reputation for being “easy.” Of course, Charlie falls in love with Sam at first sight but she’s dating a college guy and so he loves her from afar. It is comforting to know that this is not the main point of this story. However, like a typical teen movie they do get high and go to parties. However, in between the normality of teen life is the dark past of Charlie who while intoxicated casually tells Sam that his best friend blew his brains out while in the same breath asking her where the bathroom is. Sadly, I was the only one that laughed at this scene due to how casually he mentioned this little fact. On the other hand is the amazing performance of Miller as Patrick who has his own issues with the jock he is in love with, who just recently learned to love him without being drunk. But it is not all dark as we also get to see colorful characters a la Breakfast Club such as Mary Elizabeth(Mae Whitman, Avatar and the Last Airbender), a goth girl who recently became a Buddhist.
Ultimately, the charm of this movie is the darkness of the characters and the twist of the story which throws the audience an impressive curve ball never seen before in a coming of age film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aog8680PVmU
1 response so far ↓
Vivian // Oct 8th 2012 at 4:51 pm
Logan Lerman …amazing! I absolutely loved the movie and like you it totally went above and beyond my expectations. I thought it was going to be a typical teenage movie and yet it ended up delving into real issues. At first I thought it was the tragedy and guilt over his aunt’s death that was the origin behind his lack of mental stability, but realizing that it was completely something else really highlights how masterful the directors, screenwriter, and producers were. I didn’t know what was going to happen next and I loved that. Few movies are able to be so unpredictable.
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