Bruner also helps Nadine during a particularly rough patch in the third act, showcasing that he has a heart behind that prickly exterior.Teenagers have generally not been well served by the movies. At first, he applies the usual Harrelson snark, including the all-time one-liner 'You need to watch out for run-on sentences.' But it then shifts to a more open dialogue, with Bruner even encouraging her to take some time off school to cool off. But the best moment comes when Nadine asks for Bruner's help after she sends Nick a rather explicit text.

He doesn't have any time for Nadine's teenage attitude, as he matches her quip for quip. Bruner falls into the same mold - he just goes about it in an entirely different way. Keating in Dead Poets Society, end up shaping their protagonists' lives for the better. Anderson in The Perks of Being A Wallflower to perhaps the greatest movie teacher ever, Robin Williams' Mr. Most teachers in teenage films, from Paul Rudd's sensitive Mr. It's also a nice change of pace to see a healthy, platonic relationship between a boy and a girl in one of these films.īut the real standout of the film is Harrelson as Mr. Even Nadine understands that Erwin is sending her a message through film: he's not going to wait around forever. Nadine ends up attending her school's film festival and watching Erwin's animated film about an alien boy who seeks solace in the stars after being turned down one time too many. He's also an aspiring filmmaker, which plays a part in the film's climax. Over time, more is revealed about his home life: his parents are fairly well off, but often traveling, leaving him home alone. At first glance, he seems to fit into the standard 'best friend who's pining after the girl he can't have.' He even tries to kiss Nadine on the Ferris wheel - an oldie, but a goodie. One scene even features Mona shouting that Nadine needs to respect her since she's an adult, and Darien explodes: 'Then why do you keep calling me?!' Jenner packs a whole lot of angst into that closing speech, and I challenge anyone to not tear up at the end.Īnother character who gets a surprising amount of depth is Erwin. He has to not only take care of her but also their mother. But toward the end of the film, Darien opens up to Nadine and reveals that he feels a major weight on his shoulders. He's handsome, their mother clearly favors him, and there's the aforementioned relationship with Krista. One major example is Jenner: At first glance, Darien seems to be nothing more than a thorn in Nadine's side.

Steinfeld's co-stars also have the chance to dig deep into the usual archetypes that populate a coming-of-age film, resulting in some surprisingly deep performances.

The perks of being a wallflower amazon