“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

If you decide to see this movie because you love John Hughes’ eighties masterpieces (not an overestimation, by the way), you might be pleasantly surprised. No, Stephen Chbosky doesn’t have Hughes’ ability to capture a generation’s spirit “in a grain of sand”. He does come close though, aided by some great performances from the young actors, whose chemistry is palpable.

Charlie, who narrates the story in a series of letters to a stranger, has recently lost his best friend and is coping with his death by doing some soul-searching and trying to befriend classmates, an uneasy feat for this shy boy. The person he feels most drawn to is Patrick, a senior who likes to wreck havoc in a class full of freshmen. Immediately, Charlie sympathizes with the fearless Patrick, instead of the insulted teacher. Charlie himself often feels like an impostor; he relates to Patrick’s wish to be liked and appreciated by the students, even if it is for his silly theatrics. Charlie is vicariously enjoying the thrill of being the center of attention, playing the role of a flamboyant showman among the nondescript teenagers eager to call names.

Through Patrick Charlie meets Sam, his step-sister. Instantly attracted to Sam, Charlie pines for her despite the fact that she’s seeing Craig, an aloof guy with commitment issues. Foreshadowing what’s to come, Sam gives Charlie his first kiss. We know that they’ll end up together sooner or later – after all, Charlie is extremely likable, despite (or maybe because of?) his constant turmoil. Charlie is so terrified of hurting someone that he can’t even break off a hated relationship with a girl who imposes herself upon him and whom he cannot stand. Toward the end of the movie we find out why he is so careful with people and learn the true reason for Charlie’s mental state. The cause is foreshadowed through flashbacks, but somehow seems ill-fitting, considering the boy’s feelings for the person who had caused him harm. Also, the fact that he and Sam suffered from the same injustice when they were young seems a bit contrived.

Overall, the movie is entertaining and thought-provoking. After seeing it, one might be tempted to open up a high school yearbook to relive some past highlights. However, a couple of nitpicky complaints do pop up. First, Charlie’s parents seem awfully formal and unreal, especially the father, who’s a cut-out of a typical American dad. Another hard-to-swallow point is the awkward relationship between a vivacious gay guy and a boring in-the-closet jock. Why are they drawn to each other? Is it just a physical attraction? Although, the setting is early nineties, so it was probably hard to be choosy when there were so few known choices. Last, the bullying scenes are piled on too thick, the numerous instances lessening the intended effect. One wishes the director had realized that Paul Rudd’s scenes need to outnumber the scowling kids’ ones. When in doubt, just add Paul Rudd, the English teacher every girl wishes she had.