22 Family Movies Not To Watch With Your Family On Thanksgiving

Courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This adaptation of the wildly popular young adult novel was a huge hit, and for good reason. It tells the story of a shy but intelligent and curious high school freshman, Charlie, who has endured recent trauma with the suicide of his close friend and the death of his favorite relative, his aunt Helen. As he begins his high school career, he’s quickly befriended by seniors Sam and Patrick, both smart, wild, free spirits who see the good in him despite his hesitancy to participate. He becomes ensconced in their friend group, and because they’re teenagers, romantic drama ensues. Meanwhile, Charlie’s home life becomes tumultuous, as he witnesses his sister’s boyfriend abuse her, and as he begins to experience flashbacks that are tied to Helen and her death.

I won’t give everything away, because the ending is incredibly shocking and is impossible to process unless you know the whole story. This is one of those rare young adult stories wherein harmony in the protagonist’s home life and in his social life are both crucial to his well-being, and we don’t root for one over the other. Rather, we begin to see that, although we’re on Charlie’s side, there are some things he’s not dealing with that are impeding him from living as a full, healthy, and peaceful kid. Seeing him flounder and regress is unsettling and heartbreaking; finding out why is just as awful. But, in the end, his intelligence, curiosity for the world around him, and capacity for endurance leave us certain he’ll pull through, with a little help from his friends.

Especially avoid if: Abuse was or is a part of your reality. If you’re an adult, or even still a teenager, whose troubled past seems insurmountable and makes you feel broken, there’s a lot in here that could remind you of the bad times. Though this story is ultimately one of resilience, simply put, it may bring up feelings you’re not ready to feel or issues you’re not ready to deal with.