Summit Entertainment's latest film, based on the novel written by Stephen Chbosky, profiles a 15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman), an endearing and naive outsider, who is coping with first love (Emma Watson), the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs. This introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam and Patrick, who welcome him to the real world. You should be aware that this film was originally rated R by the MPAA for "teen drug and alcohol use, and some sexual references" but was later changed to PG-13 after an appeal for "mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight - all involving teens." Our 14-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Victoria Burns, found this film to be the "best she has ever seen" and noted that "this movie can prepare teens to not keep emotions and experiences bottled up because school can be painful and stressful." Below is her review. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
reviewed by Victoria Burns

I can honestly say that it was one of, if not the best movie that I have ever seen.  It was so pivotal that it almost made me cry, and that says a lot because I almost never cry.   It was great to see a movie that beautifully showed some of the struggles that real teenagers go through and not sugar coated.  

This movie is very emotional and has great acting.  I like the way  the flashback scenes are shown, by alternating from the present to the past, then showing the aftermath after the flashbacks.  I had never seen Emma Watson in anything but the Harry Potter series, and she is amazing playing Sam, I have never seen her play a character like this.  

The movie is so good that no words can explain. I bought the book directly after I watched the movie.  I also love how throughout the whole movie most of the story is told by Charlie (Logan Lerman) who writes letters anonymously to “A Friend” who doesn’t exist.  

This movie is about a severely depressed and lonely boy, Charlie, whose best friend killed himself before the school year starts. So now Charlie has no friends and people think he is weird because he holds in and takes the pain of himself and all of the people he loves, sometimes it all wells up and he has anxiety attacks.  This year he is determined to make friends and he meets the flamboyant Patrick (Ezra Miller), and his stepsister Sam (Emma Watson). They let him in and introduce him to a whole new world filled with fun, sadness, and just plain life. Plus, he falls in love with Sam along the way.  All of Charlie’s friends are seniors, and he makes a mistake that makes them go away for a while. But then he does something to make them love him even more than before.  

I think that everyone should watch this movie. I like how, whenever something bad or slightly inappropriate happens in the flashbacks, the scene hints at what was happening without blatantly showing what happened.  My favorite quote from the movie is when Charlie’s English teacher, Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) tells him that, “We accept the love we think we deserve.” I think it is so profound and absolutely true.  I recommend this movie for eighth graders going into high school up to any adult.  This movie can prepare teens to not keep emotions and experiences bottled up because school can be painful and stressful.  I give it five out of five stars because this movie is amazing and will someday be a classic.