516. Wonder; movie review
Cert PG
113 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language, violence, scenes of emotional upset
Such has been the avalanche of publicity, associating Wonder with World Kindness Day that I feel duty bound to be positive about Stephen Chbosky’s film.
So, on the plus side, I can say that its story is wholesome and its message is laudable.
However, I have to be honest and add that Mrs W and I found it too cheesy and its resolutions too easy.
The movie focuses on a young boy, Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) whose very difficult birth has left him facially disfigured.
It begins just as he is about to take the momentous step of going to mainstream school for the first time.
He walks to the gates wearing an astronaut’s helmet, alongside his mum (Julia Roberts), dad (Owen Wilson) and sister (Izabela Vidovic) and then has to take it off and endure the stares of his fellow pupils.
Initially, Wonder tugs at the heart strings as Auggie is ostracised by the other children but gradually they see beyond the superficial.
With this in mind, Chbosky divides the movie into Rashamon-style chapters looking initially through Auggie’s eyes and then those of his new friend (Noah Jupe), his sister and her best pal (Danielle Rose Russell).
By adopting this style, Chbosky attempts to demonstrate that outward signals are not always a true refection of an individual's story. Indeed, even the most confident and attractive person may have deep psychological issues.
I am afraid this did not work for me because it was not comparing apples with apples. For example, Auggie's disfigurement cannot be set against his sister's lack of self-worth even though the attention he receives partially contributes to it.
True Tremblay excels as young Auggie and Roberts makes a heart-warming mother but I was frustrated by the ease at which tears were replaced by smiles.
But, hey, I guess I also think World Kindness Day is too glib.
Reasons to watch: excellent performance by young Jacob Tremblay
Reasons to avoid: just too cheesy with resolutions which are too easy
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Star tweet
#Wonder: Love how the film does not solely focus on Tremblay's character, but the important people around him too. Yes, credit goes to the book, but it takes guts not to dilute the crux and pick what's important.
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