Book and Film Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Based on the novel of the same name. Adapted and directed by Stephen Chbosky. Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller.

Published in 1999, film released October 2012

There are plenty of films that depict and explore the trials, tribulations and themes of adolescence, and both the book and film The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of them. What makes this book and film stand out differently is its honesty when looking at how messed up teens and high-school can be, but in the end, we will survive and learn and be messed up young adults in our messed up post high school life.  I mean this in a good way actually. The book and film in the end is a positive and hopeful message without being overly cheesy or look down on the reader/viewer.

The story is essentially about Charlie (Logan Lerrman) who starts his freshman year of high school after having his best friend from middle school commit suicide. He soon befriends seniors, Patrick (Ezra Miller) his step-sister Sam (Emma Watson) and follows the school year. This is all done (in the book) through letters written by Charlie to an anonymous friend about his experiences, although there may be guesses and theories to whom he is writing to. The films shows some of his letter writing, but is essentially told through Charlie’s perspective.

Despite the mature subject and being categorized as YA (young adult) the film/book can be appreciated by non young adults as well.

So what are some of the mature subject matter? Without getting too spoilerish: drugs, sex, teen pregnancy, molestation, rape, suicide, homosexuality, homophobia and bullying.

That is a lot to explore. This is also complaint that I have read in reviews from others that the book throws all of this and more in a short time span and is unrealistic. While reading I didn't feel like this was too much. It was not THAT long ago I was a teen and plenty of these issues came up in my days in high school.  The book looks at all these issues in a respectful and honest manner.  The film adaptation doesn't explore all of these, but a fair amount in the same way.

It is a touching story that even with all the heavy issues, it is hopeful in the end and  is more about the power of friendship and the love of family.

Logan Lerman who plays Charlie does a good job. While I read the book, I knew that there was something not right with Charlie, that was  more than just being shy and socially awkward.  He was just too sheltered, too innocent for a 15 year old starting high-school. Trust me! I was sheltered and green as well. The film doesn't explore much of Charlie’s panic attacks, anxiety, crying fits when he is overwhelmed and his blackouts. As well (for a lack of a better description) adrenaline rush that makes him able to defend himself from his bullies and later on a group of football players.  It also helps that his older brother is a college football player and teaches him a thing or two.  These outbursts are rare and Charlie is not a violent person, but linked with his other characteristics, the reader is clued in more and more that there is something wrong about Charlie that we are not aware of until the end. This helps to make Charlie a more complex and realistic character.  Lerman gets Charlie’s sensitivities and sweetness, but in the end, even with his big emotional and mental breakdown, he felt just like another shy and quiet teenage boy who has a talent for writing. Not all Lerman’s fault, it is also changes the film makes as well. This was something done more effectively and impactful in the novel.

Emma Watson as Sam continues her post Harry Potter career.  In both the book and novel I tried to see Sam as more than just object of affection. Sam as more than the free spirited girl who helps Charlie to come out of his shell and the quirky step-sister to Patrick who loves indy music.  There isn't really anything wrong with Sam or in Watson’s performance.  She is nice and like most teenage girls she has self esteem issues that she tries to fix it by male attention. Self esteem issues that stem from childhood.  Maybe I just have problems relating to these types of female characters. Yes! I knew and continue to know girls (and women) like her.  Sam is already on her journey of discovering who she is as an individual. By the end, through her friendships and experiences as she is on her way to university, she is one step closer to female independence and accepting the correct type of love. That is as deep as I can go when it comes to Sam’s character.

The actor and character in the film that shined the most to me was Ezra Miller as Patrick. The openly gay teen that is witty, has a zest for life and is cleaver and mature beyond his age. I know what you thinking! A flamboyant gay male character...how original?  Book Patrick and Ezra as film Patrick is more than that. Patrick is not flamboyant, but an open and happy and a mostly self assured person. There is a difference to me. There is a depth to Patrick that isn't often seen in “supporting” characters in a book. Ezra brings this to his acting as well in the film. I believe that an entirely separate book and film can be written about Patrick as well. I've only seen Ezra Miller in one other film, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and you can’t show much more versatility and range from playing Kevin, a deeply disturbed teenage killer, to Patrick.  He will be seen next as Leon in a new adaptation of the classic Madame Bovary (YAY! Another period piece from a classic novel I’ll watch.)  At only 20, this is a career and talent I looking forward to watching develop.

My minor complaint about the film is that when Patrick has his breakdown and is at his lowest, it did not go deep enough. For a period of time he lives off truckers pills and coffee, hooking up with randoms not to feel pain/hate but love. I understand that you can only do so much in a film adaptation, but with a character like Patrick, without going into specifics, when he becomes like this, it is eye opening and a learning experience for the characters and reader/viewer as well. It is one of the most poignant and saddest moments in the book and could have been more powerful scene(s) if expanded more in the film.

I cannot think of another example where the author of the novel also adapted the screenplay and directed the film. I think that is interesting and helped contribute the film’s success in keeping with the spirit and overall themes and message. It was also a good move to slim down the friendship between Charlie and his English teacher who gives him extra books on the side to further develop his writing and off course, further develop his knowledge of the world and himself. One thing that I found funny was that smoking cigarettes was not in the film. The characters (including Charlie) smoke. Hollywood is funny when it comes to depicting youth smoking, and possibly in an attempt to generalize the time of the film the smoking was cut out. We can have teens take drugs such as LSD, drink alcohol and be sexually active, but please don’t show them smoking. 

I also loved the look and feel of the film. The novel takes place late 1991 to the end of summer 1992. Without being obvious the film keeps the time period. There are no cell phones, laptops, Ipods or any of today’s devices. There are video tapes and this group of teens make mix tapes for one another. The fashions in certain scenes also give the time away. The music is awesome and helps to generalize the time and appeal to many viewers by using music from multiple decades, including David Bowie’s Heroes as a theme throughout.

You can do a quick tumblr search and will find many graphics with lines from The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  Most notably “We accept the love we think we deserve” and “We are infinite.” That may go into overkill  and cheesy territory but it does attest to the power of the story itself.

I may sound harsh, but this is a rare case of the film adaptation overall being faithful the spirit of a book. That is something I have seen a lot of writers, who are fully aware of unavoidable changes, are afraid of when having their work adapted to film. This is a example of both novel and book being equal in their own mediums.