The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

The friends who see us for who we really are can change our lives in ways we never expected. Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," adapted by Chbosky from his own semi-autobiographical young adult novel, is a savvy, sensitive portrait of teenagers coming of age and coming to terms. Though it ventures into some dark emotional territory, its sharp humor is as charming as its heavier moments are powerful. Logan Lerman stars as Charlie, a shy, introspective freshman in early-1990s Pittsburgh who carries deep, unspoken wounds from childhood that have made it nearly impossible for him to connect with others. That begins to change when he's befriended by Patrick (Ezra Miller), a flamboyant, fearless senior, and his free-spirited stepsister, Sam (Emma Watson). They welcome Charlie into their circle of misfits and introduce him to a world beyond his own head: midnight showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," mixtapes, late-night drives and a sense of belonging he had never imagined. Paul Rudd adds warmth as the English teacher who recognizes Charlie's gift for writing. As with any friendship, there are rifts and betrayals along the way, and Charlie's feelings for Sam only complicate things. The healing that comes from finally being accepted resolves a bit too neatly in the end, but there's plenty of honesty, wit and genuine emotion along the way. The young cast is excellent, especially the three leads - this may be the role that lets Watson truly move beyond "Harry Potter," and Miller is a natural. Music plays a big part in the story, never more memorably than when the friends drive through a Pittsburgh tunnel with David Bowie's "Heroes" blasting. For anyone who is, or ever was, an anxious teenager searching for themselves, you'll feel infinite by the end.