Popcorn in the Pages - Episode 11: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Welcome, readers. We are thrilled to continue this new content from the creators of Currently Reading Podcast! This spin-off podcast series will tackle book to screen adaptations in a spoiler-FILLED format. Be sure you’ve read the book and watched the film version before listening to the episode, because we don’t shy away from strong opinions OR from all the spoilers, unlike our regular episodes.

Show notes for this series will not be time-stamped, but will still include links to Bookshop dot org or Amazon for any books or resources referenced in the episode. These are affiliate links, so they kick back a small percentage to us if you buy through them, and help support the work we do on Currently Reading.

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

1:24 - Setup

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

3:42 - Previews

Release date. Sales info and awards.

Released in 1999

NYT #1 Bestseller

ALA’s Best Book for Reluctant Readers in 2000

“Cult classic”

Movie name and release date. Box office and awards.

Released September 2012

20 Wins, 51 Nominations

Budget of 13M, Earned 33M

“Cult classic”

6:59 - The Cutting Room

Pivotal Book scenes and how they translated to the screen

The tunnel

Charlie being high

Charlie’s revelation at the end

Changes from Book to Movie

Change from love story as secondary plot to main plot 

Friendships with Charlie seemed disingenuous in the movie

Song in the tunnel is changed from Fleetwood Mac to David Bowie

Mary Elizabeth’s college acceptance

Bill’s girlfriend is now his wife in the movie

Bill and Charlie’s relationship in the movie

Left out of the adaptation

Charlie doesn’t cry in the movie

Masturbation scene 

Developed relationship between Charlie and his sister

Abortion

Lack of importance of Rocky Horror

The scene where Sam tells Charlie not to think of her that way

Added to the movie

Charlie’s siblings have names

Charlie is a “normie”

Casting and alternates

Charlie: LoganLerman → Freddie Highmore, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Nicholas Hoult, Asa Butterfield

Sam: Emma Watson → Jennifer Lawrence, Sarah Hyland, Emma Roberts, Brie Larson

Patrick: Ezra Miller → Timothee Chalamet, 

Mary Elizabeth: Mae Whitman →  Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, Rose McIver

Problematic elements

Lack of POC

Queer representation

Excessive drug and alcohol usage 

32:41 - Award Season

Worst and best parts of the adaptation.

Film quality

Unbelievable characters due to casting/age

Casting - outside main characters

20 years later letter was omitted from the movie (a best part)

Paul Rudd

Derek’s ponytail

Charlie’s hot brother

Worst and best actors.

Emma Watson - Sam

Paul Rudd - Bill

Ezra Miller -