The Perks of Being a Wallflower

An intelligent, reticent, and slightly disturbed freshman (Logan Lerman) is befriended by two senior step siblings (Emma Watson, Ezra Miller) who introduce him to their outsider's world of parties, dances, diners, and late night Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings before being whisked away to college. I became interested in this film after learning that Stephen Chbosky had been handed the reins to direct the adaptation of his 1999 novel. So I checked out the novel, which I thought was excellent, and watched the film which adds some detail (but naturally leaves much out) and in some ways makes a nice companion to the book but largely fails to capture its alternately funny and somber tone. I often carp about people judging films by their books, but I have to do it here: despite turning in pretty good performances, Lerman, Miller, and even Watson (who I thought would be ideal) are miscast, and with Chbosky overseeing his own adaptation, I feel comfortable in saying that the movie doesn't quite do the book justice. On a sidenote, I am grateful to know what happens at a late night Rocky Horror recreation without ever having to find out for myself.