The familiar click of a typewriter to the opening notes of “Could it be Another Change” flood out of my computer speakers. A voice speaks, “Dear Friend, I am writing to you…” My favorite movie begins.

I have been watching “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” at least once a month since the fall of ninth grade, when a TikTok about it happened across my “For You” page. I was recently off of a “Harry Potter” kick, so another Emma Watson movie was a welcome addition to my life. I was hooked before she even came on the screen.

In order for a movie to be considered one of my favorites, I judge it on three things: First, the soundtrack.

The soundtrack of “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is exactly what the soundtrack of a coming-of-age movie should be. It opens with light-hearted staccato piano notes and closes with upbeat cymbals and guitar strums. It is a sea of undiscovered songs that anyone who slightly relates to the movie will instantly fall in love with. However, it is also littered with familiar favorites that anyone could sing along to. Each time one of these songs begins to play in the back of a scene, every emotion being felt by the characters on screen is encapsulated.

One of the reasons it is so easy to lose yourself in the sounds of the movie is the relation of the songs to the plot. The characters eagerly search for what is dubbed the “tunnel song” (“Heroes” by David Bowie). The tunnel song plays on the radio one night as they drive, and our characters strive to feel the way they felt upon hearing it for the first time. In this moment, the main character Charlie describes his emotions poetically saying “I swear we are infinite.” This line summarizes the highs and low of adolescence, which most viewers can’t help but relate to.

Second on my list of good movie qualities is entertainment value.

I, like most Gen Z teenagers, have a very short attention span, and it is increasingly challenging for me to sit still and watch a movie or show for longer than five minutes. The first time I watched “Perks,” I couldn’t look away from the screen. Even now, as I find myself mouthing the lines with the characters, it is impossible for me to glance away for even a second, worried I will miss out on the chance to pick up on a new detail or miss one of my favorite parts.

A good plot keeps a viewer enraptured the entire span of a film. It includes complex characters, wild twists and jaw-dropping lines. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” does an excellent job at each one of these. It is best at making the viewer feel things, though. I often find myself laughing, crying and singing right along my favorite characters, feeling like part of the movie myself.

The last major box a movie must check off for me is character quality.

I think that viewers must be able to deeply connect with at least one character in a movie in able to enjoy it.  As we found in our centerspread, the opportunity to see oneself represented in film allows people to get more in touch with their own feelings.

The numerous traits represented by the core characters in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” allowed me to see a bit of myself showcased and ultimately become more comfortable with my own personality.

So Dart readers, my advice to you is to take some time and watch your favorite movie, and if you don’t have one, you’re welcome to share mine! Reflect on the comfort it brings you — happy watching!