Words on Bathroom Walls

High school is already a breeding ground for social awkwardness and personal insecurity. But for the protagonist in Words on Bathroom Walls, the voices and hallucinations turn his teenage years into a nightmare.

Unfortunately, this earnest adaptation of Julia Walton’s coming-of-age novel tends to trivialize its exploration of mental illness, despite committed performances from some talented young stars.

The romantic drama follows Adam (Charlie Plummer), a bullied teen whose schizophrenia diagnosis midway through his senior year causes him to transfer to a strict Catholic school. That’s where he meets academic high-achiever Maya (Taylor Russell), who doesn’t know about his affliction and is hiding clues about her own background.

Meanwhile, Adam’s mother (Molly Parker) tries to help by applying him for a clinical trial of a breakthrough drug. However, his disapproval instead could stem from deep-rooted hostility toward mom’s new boyfriend (Walton Goggins) trying to replace his late father.

As his relationship with Maya deepens, agnostic Adam leans on a priest (Andy Garcia) for advice, but knows he ultimately must share his secrets in order to free his mind.

Many films have tried to portray schizophrenia with a similar level of sincerity, but few have succeeded. In this case, the visual depictions of Charlie’s multiple personalities feel too much like plot devices. The internalized characters register as quirky sidekicks whose appearances and behavior feel calculated rather than genuine evocations of psychological trauma.

Plummer (Lean on Pete) continues to showcase his versatility with a multilayered portrayal in which he frequently accomplishes what the film otherwise cannot — getting inside Adam’s emotionally volatile headspace with depth and complexity.

Russell (Waves) provides capable support in a role that feels underdeveloped. Nick Naveda’s contrived if well-intentioned screenplay deserves credit for not relegating Maya to a clichéd love interest, yet doesn’t devise much of a compelling alternative, either.

As directed by Thor Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), the film features some powerful moments, and it might resonate with those who have shared some of Adam’s troubles. Yet such delicate subject matter requires a sensitive touch, as well as a bit of audacity.

Instead, Words on Bathroom Walls plays it safe and unintentionally shares a primary trait of its lead character, who’s too eager to fit in when he really needs to stand out.

Rated PG-13, 111 minutes.