Movie Review- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

I went to see this because I wanted to see how well Emma Watson could do as far as acting outside of the Harry Potter universe. And I could somewhat relate to the plot of the movie. This movie also takes place in the early to mid-90s, before every teenager on the planet had a cell phone, back when friends gave other friends "mixed tapes". I wonder if teenagers today know what a mixed tape is.

This movie brought back a lot of nostalgic moments in school for me. I could relate to the main character (He loved to read beyond what was required, I was the same way but with writing). He, like me, did not portray any confidence in any social situation at the beginning of the movie, hence why no one talked to him. He was a very likable character, but overshadowed by another.

Ezra Miller stole the show in every scene he was in. Yes, he was a gay character, but I would have loved to have a friend like this in school. Someone to stand by you. He was the comic relief for the majority of the film, but then he takes a serious tone toward the end. He's a good actor, and I look forward to seeing him in future films.

I was kind of confused as to how to perceive Emma Watson's character. She and the main character seemed to portray good chemistry in the scenes of them together. But, there is a scene where they kiss, but she is currently dating someone else. I'm not sure if that is normal among teenagers nowadays. If it is, maybe that is why that scene threw me off.

I feel that this film may be like "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" in the sense that although it did not do well at the box office, and it may not stand the test of time, that it may gain a following of sorts. Not because of the cliches throughout, but I felt that there was an underlying truth behind the characters and events. Will I see this movie again? I'm not sure. Something tells me that I may gain more if I see this a second time.

If you have read the book, or you think that I should give it a second shot, please feel free to leave feedback in the Comments section below.

Final Rating: B+