Redbox Review: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is being called a modern classic, and I totally agree. Whether you’ve read the novel from which the movie is based or not, this movie is wonderful and heartfelt. Reading the book first is definitely recommended though. I may have read it four times. What? It’s my favorite book, okay?

Charlie (Logan Lerman), the main character or the wallflower if you will, is not your typical high school freshman. He has reservations about starting his high school journey as a friendless teen with anxiety. He begins to write letters to an anonymous person to help him feel not so alone.

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Charlie and the friends he makes along the way. Here’s four of the most important.

1. Don’t sell yourself short. One of the most known quotes from the novel and the movie is a piece of advice that Charlie’s English teacher (Paul Rudd) gives him. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” In other words, don’t settle. Not just in your relationships but in other aspects of your life, too.

2. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. One of my favorite quotes from the novel and the movie is “You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love.” Sometimes you have to put yourself first to be the best you that you can be for those who love you.

3. It’s okay to not have it all together all of the time. I mean, we are only human. In the beginning Charlie says, “So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad, and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” Human emotion is messy, and so is the way we experience it. Don’t be afraid to feel what you feel.

4. Emma Watson is flawless. Okay, maybe this one doesn’t count. But who can argue with the perfection of the super talented and always-beautiful Emma Watson? She did win the People’s Choice Award for her role as Sam in the movie.

Don’t think the entire story is this heavy, however; there’s plenty of lightheartedness. The movie and the novel will both leave you feeling moved with the desire to dive back into the story again and again. You won’t regret it.

Without a doubt—rent this one. Heck, I say buy it.

This article is part of Samantha Latting's weekly entertainment column, "Redbox Review," which provides reviews about movies available at Redbox.
By: Samantha Latting | Image: Source