I know, objectively, that 2012’s The Perks of being a Wallflower is not a bad film. Indeed there is quite a lot to recommend it, not least the performances of the lead actors. But I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I doubt it was aimed at me, and that’s fine, but actually ‘not being the target audience’ doesn’t often put an otherwise well-made movie straight into my bad books.
I think in the end, the problem I have with this particular offering is the fact that it wildly misses the point about being a misfit during adolescence. Not being part of the ‘in-crowd’ is just what happens to some people. You don’t need to have experienced trauma to find being a teenager difficult.
Which isn’t to say there aren’t children and young people who don’t experience the same issues, or worse, as the characters in the movie, but I still think we live in a world where that is not, thankfully, the majority. Plenty of kids just find school difficult because it is difficult and I think that could make for just as compelling a narrative for a movie like this, without the need to insert additional distress to explain the social awkwardness of the main character. Who, isn’t, when all is said and done, even that socially awkward really.
But I’m certain lots of people love this movie.
Score for Christmasishness
Despite the fact that I didn’t really like the film, I can’t knock its Christmasish credentials. It’s set over the course of a year so it’s only Christmas for a bit of the movie, but it is pretty Christmasish for that bit and includes a Christmas party complete with Secret Santa, a family Christmas dinner and a New Year’s Eve Party. And snow. So for the bit of the movie when it is Christmas, it is very Christmas(ish).
James Proclaims! 
It’s getting to be a bit like Christmas!
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Looks like the film is dear 2 you.
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