A much-loved movie has been listed as one of the “best movies based on a book” – and it’s now gaining a brand new audience. Countless book lovers will no doubt have watched this film that’s based on the best-selling novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, with Elle magazine giving it a place in its top adaptation rundown.
The film, which is now available to stream on Amazon Prime, is a coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, and based on his 1999 novel. The film’s synopsis reads: “Logan Lerman stars as a teenager named Charlie who writes to an unnamed friend, and these epistles chronicle his trials, tribulations, and triumphs as he goes through his freshman year of high school. The film depicts his struggles with his, unbeknownst to him, post-traumatic stress disorder, as he goes through his journey in high school, making new friends, portrayed by Emma Watson and Ezra Miller.”
The 2012 film’s ensemble cast also includes Mae Whitman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Joan Cusack, Nina Dobrev, and Paul Rudd in supporting roles.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was met with positive reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes critics rating it at a high 85%. Their critics consensus states: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a heartfelt and sincere adaptation that’s bolstered by strong lead performances.”
One critic said: “In not following the status quo and for being more honest than angst-ridden, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an extremely soulful and satisfying challenge for the normally fluffy or unrealistic high school setting of movies.”
“It can sometimes be hard to watch a film adaptation of one of your favorite teenage books because, too often, they fail to live up to the brilliance of the page. Luckily, this was not the case for the 2012 adaptation,” another added.
The audience rated it similarly at 89%, with one reviewer describing the movie as “beautiful and sincere”.
Another said: “I like this movie a lot, even though it’s not my generation. The music is good, and Logan Lerman gives a good performance. Like the earlier Breakfast Club, I tend to stop and watch this every time I’m channel surfing.”
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is available to stream on Amazon Prime.