The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

A charming, off-beat coming of age story, TPOBAW is about Charlie, an awkward freshman looking for friendship after spending time in hospital. He befriends two half-sibling seniors: Sam, a beautiful yet damaged girl and Patrick, a flamboyant class clown. He quickly falls for Sam while the seniors introduce him to the world of parties and minor college drug use. The film leans heavily and successfully on a fantastic soundtrack including Come on Eileen and Bowie's Heroes. As they work through their problems, it's easy to like Charlie - who brings a stability to the trio - and this pays off when the film darkens. The only noticeable downside is that it does feel like it's forcibly trying to be quirky at times. That said, there's a few interesting quotes and tidbits that give the film a smartness and these help to make it worth watching several times.

8.5/10