“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is, from the outside, your classic coming-of-age tale. Yet, in contrast to the majority of these films, it does not fall victim to an overly dramatic portrayal of teenage angst, or of alienated cliches. Based on a novel that has gained a considerable cult following, the film is unusually written for the screen and directed by the author of the book, Stephen Chbosky. Perhaps still meant for younger generations, the film also echoes more sophisticated themes; easily identifiable even to adults.

Charlie (Logan Lerman) is our protagonist. A shy, reserved freshman just beginning high school, he is afraid to step into the large, unfamiliar world known as high school. Through voice-over narration, in which Charlie is shown to be writing to an anonymous stranger, we slowly start to gain a more rounded understanding of his background; at times even receiving some disturbing hints that something traumatizing happened to him as a kid, an experience that made him worse than even your average scared freshman. Only the helpful advice of his English teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) is enough to support him in his first few days. At least, until he meets Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson). The two, who he learns are hallf-siblings, introduce Charlie to their own isolated group of friends, casually called “The Wallflowers.” Refreshingly different from the average high school crowd, Charlie finds that he fits right in.

Growing up in the 90’s, this film is ripe with typical music of the time and with pop culture references. At one point, Charlie even creates a “mix tape” for Sam, the idea of which may be almost inconceivable to a generation that never lived without the Internet. This is one of the reasons that “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” rises above many films in its genre. It helps to show the progress and growth of a young kid that many current adolescents may relate to, yet also speaks to the themes emerging during this time period, accessible to older generations alike. Charlie listens to Sonic Youth and The Smiths. He experiments with drugs and alcohol. He kisses a girl for the first time. And he finally starts to enjoy and live his life.

The principle cast could not have been more perfectly chosen. Each of the core three actors shows a maturity beyond their years. Perhaps a decorated past has had them grow faster than your average actor or actress. Logan Lerman has been acting since he was 8, Ezra Miller since 15, and Emma Watson starred in the first Harry Potter movie when she was only 9. In a meaningful way, this film can, and hopefully will be seen as a stepping-stone in each actors’ career, proving that they are capable of carrying on deeper, more dramatic roles.

As mentioned earlier, this film is not your typical light-hearted teen comedy. Think “Clueless” meets “Requiem for a Dream.” It has many elements commonly seen to these types of films; including a hopeful, likable romance (between Charlie and Sam), a desperate search for where a teenager belongs in the world, and, ultimately, an understanding of self. But there is something even deeper at work here, not only with Charlie’s disturbed background, where we learned of some repressed memories he endured as a kid, but also in its grasp of the true nature of happiness. As we learn, happiness comes not from reading about life, or even from writing about it; but instead from participating and learning to live in the moment. We must live in the here and now, during which, as Charlie discovers: “We are infinite.”