Three perks of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Despite being set in a ‘90s American high school and featuring Paul Rudd as an English teacher, the similarities between Perks and all typical teenage comedies end there. Adapted by writer Stephen Chbosky from his own novel, this film follows troubled sixteen-year-old Charlie as he enters his freshman year of high school. Complete with shots of Emma Watson in a corset and lines such as 'Welcome to the island of misfit toys', the trailer really undersells this sincere and moving portrayal of friendship as a kind of hipster dramedy. There are far more sombre themes at play here than a bit of teenage angst, and they are mediated through a moving and funny script that brushes aside all preconceptions and goes right for the heartstrings.

Ezra Miller, Logan Lerman and Emma Watson

While each deserves their own place on this list, I’ve uncharitably decided to lump these three stars together into a Megazord of talent. Anyone who cringed through Watson’s wooden Harry Potter years will be left gobsmacked by her intelligent portrayal of flawed but kind-hearted Sam. In fairness, there is more depth to this character than there was to Hermione, not to mention better clothes and an edgy new haircut, but rather than flounder with a complex and entirely different character, Watson rises to this new challenge.

Another star who managed to escape typecasting is Ezra Miller, who earned rave reviews as the eponymous teen in dark drama We Need to Talk About Kevin. Miller steals every scene as outgoing Patrick in a sensitive performance that flits between mischievous humour and raw emotion. This subtle but powerful handling of intense subject matter is also seen in Lerman, who makes Charlie seem endearing and naive as he negotiates the tricky world of high school along with darker problems. In Lerman’s capable hands, Charlie’s wide-eyed revelation that ‘We are infinite’ comes across not as shallow, meaningless drivel, but as a poignant moment of clarity in the muddled life of this lonely teenager. What could have been a tacky and superficial tale of teenage angst rings true through thanks to the intelligent performances of the three leads.

It’s all about the music

Although the film is set in the '90s, Sam and Charlie’s love of old songs means the soundtrack draws frequently on the music of earlier decades, including The Smiths, David Bowie and Dexys Midnight Runners. One of the highlights of the film sees Charlie, Sam and Patrick discover Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ for the first time: the tentative yet defiant positivity of the song perfectly captures the heady mix of fear and courage that defines teenage years. Not only do the songs compliment the ups and downs in the narrative, but the importance of music also leads to many moments of fond nostalgia for those of us who remember the hazy days of cassettes and making mix tapes with hand-written labels. Of course, I was listening to Liberty X and audio books at the time (Sophie’s Snail does not make an appearance here), and you never see anyone having to wind the film back in, but this little reminder of nineties tech puts Perks firmly in one era, reminding us of the ethereal nature of our teenage years.

It makes The Breakfast Club look like Mean Girls

It may be set in high school, but much of the subject matter here is far from juvenile. While Charlie experiences typical teenage problems, such as romantic entanglements, drug experimentation and some highly witty name-calling, Perks also addresses depression, suicide, domestic violence, homophobia, and child abuse. Far from shoving these themes down the audience’s throat, the film posits them as aspects of characters’ lives, but not their defining feature. As a result, while each character faces personal demons, they are relatable beyond these as realistic people. These issues are not used for their shock-factor but to explain the flaws of the characters, and the film is more moving for it.

If you're looking for a film that evokes the silliness of teenage years through screwball comedy and vaguely detestable characters, look elsewhere. Perks may look like a shallow, angst-ridden and moody hipster flick, but strong performances and a clever script, along with some well-chosen music, make this a moving and poignant reminder of the perks and pitfalls of being a teenager.