Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. Rated PG. Opens Friday, October 5, at the Fifth Avenue Cinemas

These kids are way too cute to be wallflowers. There are no zits or even prominent Adam’s apples. Phew. One perk of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is obviously going to be watching all these adorable wallflowers in Pittsburgh circa 1991. Oh, and they all totally like to make lots of mix tapes that we get to hear. What? Everybody’s favourite band is The Smiths? What about Right Said Fred? What about “I’m Too Sexy”? What is their problem?

Oh, help. This movie is going to be impossible to resist. The guy—Stephen Chbosky—who wrote the novel also wrote the screenplay for this movie and directed it. That was brave. And Logan Lerman (Percy in the Percy Jackson movies) is adorable, angst-filled high-school freshman Charlie. Charlie takes meds for a mystery depression seemingly involving his dead aunt (Melanie Lynskey). His only friend is his English teacher (Paul Rudd), who gives him The Catcher in the Rye to read. The rest of us never had Paul Rudd giving us formative books. Rip-off.

Here are quirky, pretty step-siblings Sam and Patrick and their friends to save Charlie. Former slut Sam is played by Emma Watson, being wild and tender and glossy simultaneously. Settle down, Hermione sickos. Patrick (Ezra Miller) is wild and tender and gay all at the same time. Hash brownies! Role-playing at Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings! Standing up in a moving pickup truck to cool music! Sam is actually asking, “What is this song?” It’s David Bowie’s “Heroes”, girlfriend.

Okay, real high-school alienation, suicide, sexual abuse, psychotic episodes, and gay-bashing isn’t this pretty. But, dammit, the sweet bliss of these weirdo friendships is irresistible. We don’t want to be alone. We want to group dance to Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen”: “Toora loora toora loo rye aye.”

Watch the trailer for The Perks of Being a Wallflower.