Movie Review: Wonder

CHECKLIST Rating: 4/5

Reviewer: Vikheli Yepthomi, BA Sociology 6th Semester, Tetso College

Based on the novel with the same name by R. J. Palacio. Wonder tells the incredibly inspiring and heart-warming story of August ‘Auggie’ Pullman.

Wonder, is a story of boy named August ‘Auggie’ Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) who is about to start fifth grade marking his first time at a school with other kids. Auggie has been home-schooled by his mother, Isabel (Julia Roberts), in their cozy Brooklyn brownstone. But now that he’s 10, she and Auggie’s dad, Nate (Owen Wilson), have made the decision to send him to middle school. They know they can’t shield him from the world forever, and they have no desire to. So rather than learning at home from his mom, Isabel decided to send him to school, which is going to be plenty nerve wrecking on its own, but Auggie has more to worry about than the average new middle schooler born with a genetic abnormality, he has a significant facial difference.

Twenty plus surgeries in his short life have left him able to hear, see and speak like other kids but unfortunately does not look like them. And since he cannot wear his beloved Astronaut helmet all day at school, he has to face them all in person. It is far from easy; kids call him names like, ‘Gollum’ , ‘Darth Hideous’ and bully him, and even his parents cannot talk away the hurt. But Auggie isn’t the only one facing challenges; his older sister Via (Izabela Vidovic), feels like their parents Isabel and Nate barely pay attention to her because Auggie needs much attention from them. Auggie’s new friend Jack ( Noah Jupe), genuinely likes Auggie but doesn’t know how to speak up for him in school. Via’s former best friend, Miranda ( Danielle Rose Russell), seems tough on the outside but is grappling with family issues. And even bully Julian (Bryce Gheisar) has his own problems. As Auggie navigates his first year of school, he and all the people around him learn to think more of others and find happiness inside themselves.

Wonder is a simple, heartwarming and overall winsome movie with a lot of heart. It rightly delivers the message of kindness, forgiveness and the importance of self-love, which makes it a wholesome family entertainer.

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