Perks of Being a Wallflower Movie

22. The Perks of Being a Wallflower Movie Review

Type: Movie Review

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Director: Stephen Chbosky

Year: 2012
Ages: 15 and up
Genre: Romance, Adventure,

Readers Annotation: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. We are Infinite.

Plot Summary: Charlie is new in school. He's a freshman, lonely, shy and has this held back calm demeanor about himself.  He quickly and surprisingly makes friend with the quirky friends who are seniors, and take him under their wing and get the full high school experience.

Critical Evaluation: Based on the best selling novel, this film adaptation has a unique twist at the end of the film that features excellent performances from the main three cast members.  Featuring Emma Watson as Sam, Logan Lerman as Charlie, and Ezra Miller as Patrick, this small budget film has great screenwriting. 

The film uses flashbacks and slow motion sequences to depict Charlie's lonely and fragmented memory of a time when his best friend committed suicide and of his relationship with his aunt. His character and love by his friends  really drives this movie forward. As an audience, we are curios to see why Charlie became who he is and we enjoy his relationship with his new friends.

A under-the radar movie, this artsy movie will make you appreciate the simpler things in life and also the time in your own life when friendships were the only thing that was importance. Teens will flock to this movie because of its younger actors but stay for the entertaining content of high school love.

Challenge Issues: With a reference to drug use and references to sex, this video might be too advanced for teenagers.  

Challenge Defense Ideas:  

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and their relevance to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries can provide materials and information presenting multiple perspectives on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of patrons Materials should not be excluded because of its origin, background, or views of their creators. 
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate their freedom to read without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even by the Library Director and City Council members.