Perks of Being a Wallflower, The (2/12/13)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight – all involving teens.

Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd, Nina Dobrev and Dylan McDermott

Directed by Stephen Chbosky

A surprise hit that will certainly make my list of the top films of 2012.

A funny and touching coming-of-age story based on the beloved best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope—and the unforgettable friends that help us through life.

Every once in a while Jonathan will call and tell me that he wants me to review a particular movie. Sometimes that’s a good thing (The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight and The Avengers) and sometimes it’s not a good thing (every Twilight film made). So when he called and asked me to review The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I was a bit confused. I had actually never heard of it, never seen a trailer for it, and no one was talking about it. So as I sat down in an almost empty theater I was quite frankly expecting the worst.

This movie is far from perfect, but it’s the imperfections that make it so endearing. I believe the biggest reason for this is because the characters themselves are broken and they not only acknowledge their brokenness, they embrace it. With most Hollywood films being polished and artificial, this level of honesty is refreshing and at times gut wrenching. I’m not going to lie, there were a few tears shed during those 102 minutes.

The younger cast really held their own with each other and when they shared screen time with the likes of Paul Rudd, Dylan McDermott and Tom Savini.

Written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, the story just flows from the screen. He makes you feel like you are a teenager living in Pittsburgh, PA in the 90’s, making mix tapes, navigating the dangerous waters of high school and falling in and out of love.

This movie made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me reflect on my long years in high school. I loved every moment and the fact that it was filmed in Pittsburgh didn’t hurt either. I’m giving it a “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This movie definitely isn’t for younger kids, but parents and youth workers may find it a good discussion provoker for older teenagers. The film portrays some ugly truths about life that our kids are going to encounter. How will they respond when they encounter it?

Sex is a big part of the story, and it’s implied that every character has sex at some point during the movie, without any actual scenes shown. It’s implied that Sam has been sexually active since age 11, when she was first kissed by her dad’s boss. Although she no longer randomly “hooks up,” she and others talk about how during their freshman year people would get her drunk and that she “had a reputation.”?Two characters are gay and their secret relationship is discussed in several scenes.

There are a couple scenes which take place during the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We see several boys in drag dancing suggestively as well as girls dancing in a bra and panties.

There is 1 f-Word and about 10 s-words. There are several milder obscenities as well as several inappropriate names that students get called.

We also see teens drink alcohol, do drugs and smoke cigarettes at several parties.

Finally, Charlie’s breakdown, which is highly emotional and profoundly intense, may be very distressing – it was for me.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. Do you remember what Mr. Anderson said to Charlie when Charlie asked him for dating advice? (Mr. Anderson told him that we accept the love we think we deserve.)


2. Later in the film, Charlie repeats that line to Sam. What did you think of that advice?


3. Think about that line for a minute then ask yourself, if you have ever rejected love because you didn’t think you deserved it?


4. Have you ever asked, why does God love us? How did or would you answer that question?


5. Read 1 John 4:10
   This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
   
   Do you think we “deserve” God’s love?


6. Read Romans 5:8
   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
   
   Why do you think God gives love to people that don’t deserve it?


7. What can you do this week to show love to someone who doesn’t “deserve” it?