A high school freshman with psychological issues is befriended by two seniors who give him something he desperately needs, friendship.

Rating: 7/10 (9 June 2014)

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' follows Charlie, a high school freshman with more psychological issues than friends. Don't feel too bad for him though, he is soon befriended by two seniors, one of which is played by Emma Watson (hubba hubba). His friendship helps him overcome some of his issues, for a time, but it seems that his real battle is with himself, and only he can be a part of the fight.
My brief synopsis aside, I can honestly say that this is what a John Hughes film would be if he would have been born twenty years later. I started this movie with every intention of not liking it, mission impossible. The character development is complex, and I actually find myself caring for these made up people, Charlie in particular, who is so awkward sometimes I had to pause the movie because well..I worried about the guy. The movie deals with all of the problems of a high schooler from not having friends to being gay, and it even covers more serious issues towards the end. The ability to create genuine characters that the viewer will not only like, but care about, seems to be a lost art in this generation, but in this case I think someone did their homework.
I think that having a writer who is also a director can be a double edged sword. It is good to take your vision and direct it without any interference from another person, but at times it is good to have a second opinion. Writing is like a child, you fall in love with it maternally, therefor even if it is sitting in a classroom covered in glitter, eating glue, it is still your perfect little ball of sunshine. Luckily, I do not think that director Stephen Chbosky let his emotions interfere with his project.
My only complaint is the ending, which seems rushed. Chbosky drops a bomb on us, then fifteen minutes later before we have even come to terms with it the credits are rolling. What happened? Oh well, nothing is perfect (Not even Emma Watson). We accept the movies that we think we deserve, and after some of the flops of the year, I think we deserved this one.