The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Chbosky captures the exquisite feeling of belonging among friends while sensing its fleeting nature and the pain of loss. The film nails teenage alienation through strong performances and a nostalgic yet pained evocation of early-90s misfit life.

The film is a smartly observed study of a troubled teen’s first year in high school thanks to strong performances from its young cast. Ezra Miller in particular brings jolts of electricity to teen conversations.

The film is a compendium of high-school coming-of-age tropes but executes them with rare intensity, sweetness and purity. It earns its sentimentality through strong performances, especially from Ezra Miller and Emma Watson, and a convincing central trio.

The adaptation is more restrained than the source novel in its handling of trauma and omits some darker elements. It benefits from strong performances by the young cast and a focus on showing rather than telling Charlie's story.

The review notes that while the film offers little new on adolescent angst, it potently captures the immediacy of teen life through strong performances and emotional observation. Ezra Miller’s turn as Patrick is highlighted as a standout for its charisma and complexity.

The adaptation is likable and unsurprising, serving mainly as a showcase for its young cast. Ezra Miller stands out with texture in his role as the witty gay quipster.

It is a decent stab at the earnestly heartfelt high-school drama, with an episodic story covering heavy teen issues and strong music references. Logan Lerman delivers a career-making turn with charm and vulnerability that will strike a chord with the intended audience.

Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed this adaptation of his novel about a high-school freshman befriended by two seniors.

The critic praises the gentle, personal debut from writer-director Stephen Chbosky for putting viewers on the side of its teenage characters from the start. Performances from Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller are singled out as particularly impressive for conveying the intensity of youthful emotions.

The formula-hugging coming-of-age soaper benefits from memorable performances by its young trio, especially Emma Watson breaking type. First-time director Chbosky adapts his novel with more passion than skill.

The film offers some amusing insights into adolescent angst but is held back by familiar indie tropes like voice-over and a studied soundtrack, preventing it from fully coming to life. It is a heartfelt but rather generic coming-of-age dramedy.

The film is often clumsy and awkward with scrappy direction but has something that chimes, helped by the period setting and strong casting. Logan Lerman is surprisingly likable, Ezra Miller handles his role with care, and Emma Watson is all grown up and convincing.

The critic describes the film as a cluttered rite-of-passage story adapted from the director's novel, with familiar high-school elements and sensitive themes handled in a rushed manner. It is called obvious and familiar overall, though adequately acted.

The adaptation is manipulative and condescending, relying on heavy-handed rhetoric and victimization rather than genuine artistry or joy. Chbosky fails to find the pulse of life in his characters or communicate the excitement of their experiences.

The critic praises Chbosky for balancing the coming-of-age story authentically, highlighting strong performances especially from Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller. The film stands out for its genuine portrayal of teenage life and relationships, making it one of the best in the genre since Adventureland.

The review lauds the film's authentic depiction of teenage experiences, crediting director Stephen Chbosky's understanding of the material for its nuance and emotional depth. Strong performances from the leads, particularly Logan Lerman, and a well-curated soundtrack contribute to its charm and potential as a genre classic.

The critic calls the film the cure for clichéd indie coming-of-age stories, praising its authentic characters dealing with real issues and strong performances, especially Logan Lerman as the vulnerable Charlie.

Chbosky's adaptation succeeds as a sincere and convincing coming-of-age drama despite familiar tropes, with excellent performances from the lead trio elevating the material. It feels like a fresh John Hughes-style teen movie with a darker edge on mental health.

The film captures the highs and lows of high school effectively and avoids being overly twee, with Logan Lerman's lead performance carrying it. Chbosky adapts his own novel without major Hollywood distortions.

The critic finds the coming-of-age story compelling for its young characters but notes that adults may tire of the teen angst by the final third. The film is praised for sympathetically portraying smart, troubled kids beyond stereotypes, though a key plot reveal leans on cliché.

The script mistakes a record collection for personality and relies on clichés, resulting in phoney melodrama despite fine work from the young cast. Lerman shines but the talented actors are ultimately wasted.