Review of Wonder (2017) by L G — 18 Jan 2019

It's difficult to say too much about this sad, funny, poignant movie could you call it sentimental? Yes. Emotionally persuasive with a touch of cliche? Yes. But, it's warm, tender, and intelligently thoughtful too! Movies and TV have become so cynical and ugly these days that its often all too easy to forget the importance of being reminded - just how essential human kindness remains. R.J.Palacio's perceptive novel has been transferred to the screen with professional production values - inviting us to look back and recall a gentler attitude and how important balanced human relationships are especially to those less fortunate than most. Its broken into segments that invite us to understand the motivations of many of its main characters and the complex intertwining relationships they have with each other - this is done cleverly and without feeling episodic. Some may find it too saccharine (and at times it might be) but, it still made for a refreshing change and was good to be moved to tears by an encounter with human goodness instead of human trash. This suffering world certainly needs more, and looking at the HUGE box office returns the suffering patrons agreed!

Top performances from youngsters Jacob Tremblay (Room 15) playing August (who, along with another child actor Jaeden Lieberher (The Conformation 16) bring a professional innocence to their screen characters. Lovely Izabella Vidovic is marvellous as his patient but emotionally suffering sister. Most adult roles also add to this movies special appeal. Want to be reminded of how it could be? - this may just serve that purpose.