by Jessica Marshall
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" hits theaters this week in New York and L.A., and we are so ready to hit up the Island of Misfit Toys. Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller star in this adaptation of the bestselling 1999 novel by Stephen Chbosky, chronicling the coming of age of an introverted high school freshman named Charlie (Logan) through his letters to an anonymous friend. The story focuses on the true taste of life this self-professed wallflower gets when he befriends the free-spirited, older duo of Sam (Emma) and Patrick (Ezra). His ensuing experiences over the course of this formative year are equal parts hysterical, profound and sobering, and are sure to strike a chord in anyone who ventures to bear witness.
But before you submerse yourself in the nostalgia of teen angst, you might want to make sure to have a few life experiences first that may help you make the most of your trip to the theater. So here are five things to do before seeing "Perks":
Watch "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
Halloween is coming up, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a screening of this 1975 costumed cult classic starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. If you've never seen it, to describe this strange little movie is like trying to get a word in edgewise in a conversation with Mary Elizabeth. It's impossible. But the show does play a big role in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and you'll appreciate the reference much more if you've witnessed this crazy cinematic phenomenon beforehand.
Write a letter to an anonymous friend
Charlie's story is told through his letters to a nameless correspondent. We're all on a journey in this life, and we've all got things on our minds that we'd love to unload on someone (or something). So pick up a pen (or stylus if you prefer to embrace the digital age) and pour your heart out. You'll find it's quite therapeutic.
Ask your crush out first
In "Perks," Charlie's first date is at a Sadie Hawkins dance with Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman). Empowered young woman that she is, she asked him in the spirit of the old-fashioned school tradition that says girls have to ask the boys to the dance. So in the spirit of that spirit, take the initiative to ask out that special person you were waiting on to ask you out.
Watch "Rent"
There's no day but today! Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay for this big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The story is similar to "Perks" in that it focuses on how troubled young people learn to cope with the challenges they face in order to live everyday to the fullest.
Have an "infinite" moment
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." It's one of the most memorable quotes from "Perks," kinda capturing the essence of the story. Whether finding that infinite moment in your life involves cruising over a bridge with your friends, swaying to music at a concert or climbing a mountain, seize upon it and live the crap out of it!
Are you excited to see "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!
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