When I wrote about The Perks of Being a Wallflower for last year’s Banned Books Week, I mentioned that I was “a little worried about the movie, but if it’s anywhere near as awesome as it should be based on the book, it’ll be very good.”
I had high hopes but realistic expectations for the film. The screenplay was written and directed by the original author, Stephen Chbosky, so I figured that at the very least he’d be respectful of the original work, since, of course, he wrote it and all.
I went out to see the film this weekend and I was surprised by how much I absolutely loved it. Oh, it is so perfect. I spent ummm approximately 70% of the film with tears streaming down my face. This may not sound like an endorsement, but everything in this movie was exactly what I wanted it to be, so bring on the tears!
Other thoughts:
Logan Lerman (Charlie): At times, Lerman reminded me of
Christian Slater–or his voice, at least. I was worried that Lerman was coming off as “too cool” to fully capture Charlie’s awkwardness but he ended up proving me wrong.
Emma Watson (Sam): She is so charming and delightful as Sam.
Ezra Miller (Patrick): He was my absolute favorite–a perfect Patrick. I had to look up his real name on IMDB and saw that he also played Kevin in We Need to Talk About Kevin and ummm I can’t really believe it because he’s so creepy in that! And so loveable in this! Acting, etc.
Paul Rudd (Mr. Anderson): I have never been particularly fond of Paul Rudd, so now that he’s played my favorite fictional English teacher I have a few new warm fuzzies to get used to.
Melanie Lynskey (Aunt Helen): Having the lady who played Charlie’s stalker neighbor in Two and a Half Men play Aunt Helen made that Two and a Half Men character so much creepier than necessary. Ugh.
Music: They do a dance to “Come On Eileen” and I might just have to learn it and perform it at private functions.
I worry that this movie may not have the same effect on people who didn’t fall in love with the book in high school. Even if it doesn’t, it did manage to absolutely satisfy me and my long standing love for the book.
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I can’t wait to see this!! I don’t want to wait but my little town isn’t showing it
Boo!
Just read the book at the ripe old age of 34 and absolutely loved it. I don’t think you need to have read it in high school to engage with the book or the movie (which I’m dying to see, but my town has yet to get it in its theaters – ugh!). Glad the movie is so great – makes me even more excited to see it!
So glad to hear the movie lives up to the book! I’m going to have to see it!
This sounds really good! One of my friends (@mjmbecky on twitter) said one of her students asked her for recommendations based on this book last week because they loved it SO MUCH.
OK … I must see this! It seems to have everything I want in a movie — Paul Rudd, tears, dancing to Come On Eileen!
I adored this book, and now I have high hopes for the film! Yay! I love Logan Lerman for some reason so I was planning on seeing it just for him.
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