MovieChat Forums > The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Discussion > Guys who like the movie...question

Guys who like the movie...question

posted 10 years ago by tristandude14
13 replies | jump to latest

I'm a 22 year-old guy and love this movie. The book was my first discovery of this story, so that sticks with me as the better of the 2, but I just wanted to ask other guys who love this movie why they like it because I've noticed this is one of the few teen movies that both guys and girls seem to like equally and I've noticed quite a few guys commenting that this film has made them cry or really gotten to them which speaks to me in big ways.

So, guys, what is it about this movie that really grabs you? For me, it was that it's so realistic and true for any guy who was an outcast in high school. This story reminds me so much of what it was like for me in the 8th grade and trying to fit in with friends. It was almost frighteningly similar, only my "friends" only hung out with me because they felt sorry for me being lonely then. They weren't actually good people and ended up treating me pretty horribly. That's why I can connect with Charlie, though, especially the scenes where his friends are mad at him and he's alone. I went through the same exact thing in the 8th grade.

[–] big_guy20 10 years ago

I'm a 29 yr old guy and I loved both the book and the movie but for different reasons. I loved the book because I'm a shy bookworm like Charlie.
Also, when Patrick came out of the closet to Charlie, it reminded me of a former best friend who is gay, and we were really good friends. But I quit talking to him because he owed me a lot of money and took my generosity for granted. It made me miss him.
Plus I loved the book because I can relate to Charlie saying goodbye to all of his friends when they graduated and he was all by himself. There's no telling how many friends I've said goodbye to when they graduated High School and college and we've never seen each other again.
I loved the movie because for some reason, I have an emotional bonding experience when I drive friends around or they drive me around. I just felt really emotional when Patrick drove Samantha and Charlie around and it made me think of many driving/riding memories I won't bore you with. Plus I used to have a truck that looked like Patrick's which I drove in High School up until I was 25.
Also for some reason I kind of identified with Patrick in the movie. I had a strict shop teacher in High School and I often picked on him. Plus I have a smart alecky personality like Patrick. Plus the movie reminded me of my former friend, too.

[–] itz_theo 10 years ago

I love this movie because, from where I come schools aren't as such as in America. Also I don't have any wonderful memories from school life. Having fun in my school had it's own level of limitation which sucked. So the movie is pretty much what I would have wanted my school life to be( minus the other things).

It’s not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It’s really about trust. - Richard Castle

[–] danavenell 10 years ago

How was he an outcast? He was accepted by a group of much older and cool types almost immediately. You can say he was shy or awkward but he had a bunch of partying fun-loving cool music fans like him (quite unbelievably) from the start. Rather than dealing with a 'loser' and his problems, as someone just said, it was more like a wish-fulfilment of wouldn't it be great if you weren't the coolest kid ever but suddenly you were super-popular (then a few angsty teenage things happened to make it seem like there was a plot).

I probably expected a different film - this was for kids, and they tend to be undiscriminating especially if it's an uncomplicated cheesy movie about other kids. But still they need to be told why it didn't work as the movie it was supposed to be.

[–] itz_theo 10 years ago

Slow down buddy... I didn't say anything about anyone being an outcast.

You can say he was shy or awkward but he had a bunch of partying fun-loving cool music fans like him (quite unbelievably) from the start.

it was more like a wish-fulfilment of wouldn't it be great if you weren't the coolest kid ever but suddenly you were super-popular

Now those are some good things to have as a school memory.

It’s not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It’s really about trust. - Richard Castle

[–] danavenell 10 years ago

Not you mate, the OP: 'For me, it was that it's so realistic and true for any guy who was an outcast in high school.'

[–] itz_theo 10 years ago

Since you posted your response as a reply to my post I got confused. No worries.

____
It’s not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It’s really about trust. - Richard Castle

[–] tristandude14 10 years ago

He always seemed like an outcast to me. I mean, I've read the book several times and the movie seems to show how this is. Charlie only had a couple of friends and then his best friend killed himself. His other friend (I forget her name) didn't want to talk to him anymore. When you see how he was the first day of school, he sat all by himself at lunch, was called a *beep* by the girl in his English class, and was bullied by several people. It seems like he was an outcast to me.

[–] itz_theo 10 years ago

He was at first. Then the best thing happens to him.

_____
It’s not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It’s really about trust. - Richard Castle

[–] nocakeforyou 10 years ago

I really connected with this movie on a number of levels because of my own personal experiences, and because the characters are so vivid and genuine in their acting that they could be real people. The story is captivating and it's a fantastic experience for guys or girls.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 10 years ago

This film resonates with me because I too made lifelong friends when I was a freshman (in the early 90s, no less). I’d had friends all my life, but it wasn’t until 9th grade that I met people with whom I knew I’d be connected for the rest of my days. Also, while I consider myself an outgoing person now, I most definitely wasn’t as a young person, so on that level I relate to Charlie too.

While I can relate to Charlie on many levels, I don’t identify with the sadder ones. Still, this film makes me cry… because it’s so damn beautifully done. Logan Lerman as Charlie delivers one of the most convincing performances I’ve seen in years. It’s very easy to sympathize with a character when he’s so finely drawn, when his hurt is so palpable.

[–] Movie_Riggs 8 years ago

I don't relate to the characters on a very deep level, but the whole vibe the movie gives definitely reminds me of what it was like to be in high school.

I am also a very nostalgic and sentimental person, so the characters' love for old music identifies with me and I also want to cry every time Charlie has a big moment with Patrick or Sam. His friends and my friends both seemed so vibrant and true and carefree.

Basically I'm reminded of the people and things I loved most back in the day (and still do if I'm being honest).

[–] ruhenri-decastro 8 years ago

I am a 24 year male and I love this movie. One of my favorites. I don't really know why, the movie just feels perfect. Good story, great actors, fantastic performances, excellente characters. You name it. I just love it. It touches me.

[–] looper007 (1158) a year ago

It's dark themes that film deals with that I really like, you just don't get enough of that in high school films like Sexual abuse, depression, mental illness and bullying.

I also like that Charlie gets his moment with Sam but they don't end up together, as been realistic she's moving to college and he's still a high schooler. Both won't have time for one another. But she remains a friend to him. I like that Sam asks him when he didn't make a move as she badly wanted him too.

That not all teachers are dicks and they really want to help, that's why i love this film Paul Rudd's teacher sees he's making a difference to Charlie and helps him.

That little stuff like, Charlite's ex friend Susan (Julia Garner) not been his friend anymore once they hit high school cause she's in the cool gang and she doesn't talk to him. And you don't see a mention of her again. Shit like that happens sadly. In other films with less substance, she'd be bought back in the end and maybe starts a romance with Charlie or befriends him again but nope.

I do love the scene when his friend are mad at him for he did to Mary Elizabeth. I've seen friendships in high school end up breaking apart for stuff like that.

His older brother really cares for him and doesn't act like a stereotypical jock older brother. I hate that shit in High School films cause it's never really true. Also his popular older sister too, both of them care for one another especially when Charlie sees her get hit by her boyfriend.