The Wonder of "Wonder" -- a movie review

The Wonder of "Wonder"

            In the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" a humble tailor sings of the "Wonder of Wonders" when his love changes him from a boy to a man.  In the movie "Wonder", Jacob Tremblay plays Auggie Pullman, a boy with a disfigured face who begins the journey to manhood as he starts fifth grade.  Don't miss this delightful movie, which is based on an equally "Wonderful" book.

            If "Wonder" doesn't pull at your heartstrings you may need a heartstring transplant.  This amazing movie has all the right ingredients.  A home-schooled boy who fears ridicule as he begins fifth grade.  A neglected sister who realizes her brothers genetic defect and twenty-seven surgeries mandate she take a back-seat.  A cute old dog.  Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts as concerned parents.  A bevy of perfectly normal school children, which means the usual compliment of mean kids.  This show even includes one of my favorite scenes from the Thornton Wilder play "Our Town", which has the lead character Emily protesting how much of life most of us miss as we go about our normal lives.

            The best films remind us of the challenges we all face, and "Wonder" will challenge you to be a better person.  In a world of hurtful language and bullying, this film paints the pathway we all need to follow to make ourselves and the world better.  It may also remind you how difficult it was to be a fifth grade student, let alone one with a severe facial deformities.  One of my favorite lines from the show is a friend challenging Auggie to consider plastic surgery.  Auggie responds, "This is plastic surgery."  Slicking back his hair he also comments, "It takes a lot of work to look this good."

            The most surprising aspect of this film was the make-up.  It took two hours each day to apply dentures, contact lenses, and even some appliances to control his eyelids.  I watched the movie convinced Jacob Tremblay had Treacher Collins Syndrome, a condition also called mandibulofacial dysostosis.  I was rooting for this amazing kid, and was surprised to be reminded he was in the movie "Room" just a couple of years ago.  This actor has an amazing future, reminding me of Haley Joel Osment in "Forrest Gump" or "Sixth Sense".  Tremblay studied other children with similar challenges and kept a notebook on the set to remind him of what he learned.  This young actor was so consistent in his performance of "Auggie" that Julia Roberts admitted to him she missed Jacob.  He gave her a pre-make-up photo to remind her what he really looked like, since she would have arrived well after he was made up for every scene in the movie.

            The movie examines the lives of several of the characters in the show, so as an audience we are treated to see how "Auggie" has affected the lives of others.  Rather than show only his point-of-view, we get to enjoy how others are changed.  One part examines how his sister has compensated for the attention her brother receives.  We find out one of Auggie's friends in school was assigned to be his friend, but later admits Auggie is the kind of friend everyone would like to have.  "Wonder" is a good reminder of how our actions and bravery change the world for ourselves, but also for others.  If this movie doesn't make you want to be a better person, see my comment about heart-strings above. One bonus scene helps us understand why some children may be mean, and we realize it may be something parents teach their kids.

            Mandy Patinkin as the principal of a preparatory school also does an amazing job negotiating the treacherous territory of middle school.  Owen Wilson is the fun dad, and Julia Roberts plays the determined mother.  I didn't buy them as a couple, but having these two actors in the show will draw their fans.  But the movie isn't about the difficulties of the parents, principal and siblings.  This movie is about how all of us deal with bullying, differences and diversity.  

            Want to be a better person?  Go see "Wonder".

Here's a link to the official trailer--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwD8X0OEGWo