The trope of teenage drama, angst and anguish is the norm for teenage coming-out/coming-of-age films. And yes, there is some of it in this film. It cannot be avoided in a population driven by raging hormones and pubic hair popping out everywhere. Sam and Patrick "teach him it's OK to be who he is. In his first year, he learns a little, very tentatively, about sex, drinking and drugs, and a lot about friendship." [Ebert]

Early on in the story I became suspicious of Charles's dead aunt. She keeps popping up in Charles' life. Keep your eye on her.