If You Watch One DVD This Year...

I've always been a teen movie junkie. The 80's were of course the boom time for the genre, and while it became hip to denounce Brat Pack movies, the films of John Hughes set a high standard for the genre. A standard too high for most to compete with.

There have been some good ones in the last decade or so: Juno, Easy A, Drillbit Taylor, I Love You Beth Cooper, and a few others. Not everyone liked these movies, but I found them all to be very enjoyable.

I had heard of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I saw the trailer. I knew that I wanted to see it, but I was unaware of how hard this story would hit me.

It got off to a rocky start, and I wasn't exactly thrilled to see Tom Savini in it near the beginning. But he played an uptight dick of a shop teacher, so the casting was spot on.

Seeing Paul Rudd as another teacher later on more than made up for it. Rudd is one of the most likable guys in the movies, and I welcome his presence in any production.

Set in 1991, The Perks of Being a Wallflower deals with a teen entering high school. Charlie is a loner and an outcast. He hopes that his social life will improve, but the first day doesn't go so well. However, Charlie meets Sam and Patrick, who introduce him into a world of exhilaration.

To describe the plot it doesn't sound like much, but The Perks of Being a Wallflower hits all the right notes. I was astonished at how much I identified with Charlie. Many scenes left me breathless.

I wasn't exactly like Charlie. The Rocky Horror Picture show plays a role in his story, but I was not a Rocky Horror kid. I went to the late shows where it was playing at other screens, but I was seeing things like Bloodsucking Freaks and Dawn of the Dead. Maybe 200 Motels.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower works in every way. It's funny, heartbreaking, joyous, inspiring. It reminds us that we are alive right now. Life is never a preamble or an afterword.

The movie is based upon a novel, and I plan to read it as soon as I can.

I was mildly shocked that The Perks of Being a Wallflower got a PG-13 rating. The drug use in it alone would have landed it an R in days past. I agree with it though. Despite the adult themes in this movie, I don't see it as being harmful to younger teens. In fact, I think most would benefit from seeing it.

And, my God, it has one of the best kissing scenes ever.

I will not see a better movie this year.