Wonder

Ever so often, Hollywood will give us an original film that is not based on anything other than fiction--this one based on a novel. And with so many films today based on some person, event or situation, it is certainly refreshing to see something that comes directly from a writer's imagination, as with the case of "Wonder".

 

This tells an inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay). Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, mom, Isabel (Julia Roberts), dad, Nate (Owen Wilson) and sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), his new classmates, Jack Will (Noah Jupe), Julian (Bryce Gheisar), Charlotte (Elle McKinnon), and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

 

Others to round out the cast are Mandy Patinkin as Mr. Tushman, the principal, Daveed Diggs as Mr. Browne, Nadji Jeter as Justin, Danielle Rose Russell as Miranda and Millie Davis as Summer.

 

This was directed with heart by Stephen Chbosky ("The Four Corners of Nowhere" '95, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" '12). His ability to showcase his actors in a compassionate way without being maudlin was not only well executed, but difficult as well. Any filmmaker has to walk that emotional tightrope in a way of presenting characters of this type of film without making these characters look like saccharine, and Chbosky succeeded in spades. It was also written by Chbosky ("The Four Corners of Nowhere" '95, "Rent" '05, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" '12, "Beauty and the Beast" '17) plus TV, Steven Conrad ("The Weather Man" '05, "The Pursuit of Happyness" '06, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" '13) plus others and TV and Jack Thorne ("The Scouting Book for Boys" '09, "A Long Way Down" '14, "War Book" '14) plus TV, which is based on the novel by R.J. Palacio. With all the respective experience of these writers--check out their resumes, It is no surprise that the writing would have been as cohesive, tight and well thought out as it was. Interestingly, it was written as a quasi outline centering on the different main characters and tying all the segments together in an extremely delineated script.

 

Even though you'll need a half a box of Kleenex to see this, it was still presented in a very real way--like this could've been based on a real small boy. This film has humor, fear, love and the obvious sadness--all the elements of life, but it truly packs a wallop with its message that we all are important and special, and no one is better than anyone else. Wouldn't it be amazing if society could see each other in this same light?

 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                     Rated: PG                                     113mins.