  The Perks of Being a WallflowerMPAA Rating:
 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight - all involving teens.Review coming from Contributor: Curtis McParland by Feb. 14 _____
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Teens Adults
Genre:
Teen Romance Drama Adaptation
Length:
1 hr. 42 min.
Year of Release:
2012
USA Release:
September 21, 2012 (limited)
October 12, 2012 (wide) DVD: February 12, 2013 
 
Relevant Issues
first “love” How far is too far? What are the guidelines for dating relationships? Answer Child molestation / child sexual abuse
I think I was sexually abused, but I’m not sure. What is sexual abuse, and what can I do to stop the trauma I am facing now? Answer Does God feel our pain? Answer Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer incest repressed childhood memories Homosexuality
GAY—What’s wrong with being gay? Answer What about gays needs to change? Answer Read stories about those who have struggled with homosexuality Suicide
SUICIDE—What does the Bible say? Answer If a Christian commits suicide, will they go to Heaven? Answer use of illegal drugs—LSD and marijuana calling people hurtful names death of a friend FEAR, Anxiety and Worry—What does the Bible say? Answer
“We are infinite.” 
Producer’s synopsis: “ased on the novel written by Stephen Chbosky, this is about 15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman), an endearing and naive outsider, 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. The introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam and Patrick, who welcome him to the real world.”
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Positive
Positive—This is one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” was directed and adapted by the author of the book and deals with the experiences of an outsider freshman to fit into the high school scene. While I am well removed from my high school years, I was not a member of the popular crowd in high school, and I could identify with the some of the isolation that the main character went through. There is no nudity or graphic violence, other than a fight scene, in the film, but it does realistically portray the issues of drug abuse, teenage sex, suicide, homosexuality, bullying, and sexual abuse, although the scenes are not prolonged or gratuitous.
There is a sprinkling of offensive language, and the Lord’s name also is taken in vain several times in one scene. However, the movie simply documents these things and does not come across as condoning them. These are things that our kids are dealing with in high school today. The acting was excellent, and the storyline kept my attention throughout the movie. The ending, perhaps, felt a little rushed, but, overall, I highly recommend this movie. Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½ —Dave, age 58 (USA) Positive—This is a very good movie with a lot of deep issues. It’s very well made, and, yes, it deals with people struggling with child abuse, someone mentioned below that was wrong to watch a movie for that because that is “entertainment” to watch it on those issues, it’s not entertainment, it’s a message that can help other people face their issues, too, especially when 1 in 4 are molested and mostly by family members.
The movie does have drugs, alcohol and a gay guy—his story is pretty prevalent throughout the movie—however, the main character really draws all of the attention. The acting is very good, and I think this movie helps reach out to those that feel a little odd and like they don’t fit in and deals with bullying which a lot of kids are dealing with. Certainly don’t like the drugs (although that is what teenagers can deal with), mild make out scenes and the gay guy, but there are a lot of issues that a young adult could watch this movie with their parents, and it could give a lot of room to talk about things. They even had church in there a few times and the gay guy saying he was struggling thinking he would go to hell being gay. I know I was in tears knowing what I went through as a child with abuse; it brought on a lot of room for good conversation. Very well made movie. Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5 —Amanda, age 38 (USA) Negative
NegativeI read this book last summer in preparation for the film’s release and was utterly disgusted by its pretentious attempts to jam every possible young adult “problem” into one book (homosexuality, sexual experimentation, masturbation, rape, molestation, and abortion). The film softens some of the horrors of the novel, but still presents the same straightforward hopelessness that a life without God offers. One can’t watch (or read) these stories without feeling enormous sadness at the misery and total emptiness of these children’s lives.
All the same, it asks us to make child sexual abuse and recovery our “entertainment.” Its main character struggles through emotional issues, depression, thoughts of suicide, and sexual experimentation (once, he locks lips with his gay best friend), while a few reasonably sound pieces of advice (such as “we accept the love we think we deserve”) entwine with the promiscuous behavior, underage drinking, and drug use. The R-rated book was softened into a PG-13 (by leaving out the sister’s abortion, and beatings by her boyfriend, a rape Charlie stands by and witnesses, and many references to sex, not to mention the multitude of f-words in the novel)—but still left a bad taste in my mouth. From a Christian perspective, it simply felt… empty. Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½ Charity, age 29 (USA) Sorry, no other viewer comments received yet. If you have seen this movie and would like to share your observations and insights with others to be posted here, please contact us! |
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