Review of Wonder (2017) by Kyle M — 09 Jan 2018

It's the time of finding and figuring out yourself through individualism. It's the time of diversity and inclusivity acceptance. It's the time of requesting peace and kindness; goodwill towards man. The better social option when approaching and meeting, and treating, people is to #choosekind. From director Stephen Chbosky of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" comes another film based on a book with a coming of age vibe that surrounds on the school grounds, "Wonder". It's your typical wonderful film that speaks the tale of friendship and supportive family.

"Wonder" tells a story of a boy going on an inner "space adventure" in a new world of education that's public school after being home schooled prior due to the fear of unable to blend in. You see, he was born with facial differences that prevented him from going to a mainstream school, making August Pullman an unlikely hero when entering the local fifth grade. He faces harsh reality due to being different, but still look up towards the silver lining to unite the struggling community of finding compassionate and acceptance to prove he was born to stand out, encouraged by his family and new friends along the way.

Even prior to the film, it's already emotional and wonderful when you watched the trailer feeling the uplifting potential and brief cheerfulness, staring Jacob Tremblay from his breakthrough performance in 2015's "Room" being paired up with another great mother figure Julia Roberts along with Owen Wilson as a fine father figure. Already sold to see it. But one day found out it was really based on a book, so the theatrical experience was to be similar to "The Martian": see the movie then read the book - which will goes the same for the upcoming "A Wrinkle in Time".

The emotions felt in "Wonder" ranges from the expected feelings of a melancholy story to what you would feel when a family film goes into a cheery direction with an inspirational ideology in a form of a concluding paragraph. The characterization provides pivotal perspectives, although not thorough but seemingly faithful to the structure of its source material. It's an anticipating process by a pattern when the characters have their own arcs and we like to engage ourselves learning more about those characters. Only four were given their own chapters, but it would've been more pleasantly understanding if getting to know few other characters with convoluting arcs lacking rare resolution. (Maybe the book provides more context). Nonetheless, the triggered emotions are sympathetic and empathetic sadness with heart-wrenching moments at the spikes to heartwarming joy.

The credit behind the triggered emotional responses is obviously given to the committed performances that were excellently expressed from the cast with their respective usual charm. Julia Roberts continued with her grown motherly role accompanied by a contagiously loving aroma while reading her lines like she perfectly wrote them. Owen Wilson's role is quite experienced when going back to his fatherly role in "Marley & Me" along with his trademark gentle approach and comedic energy that fathers would relate. As those two and the rest of the cast that simply performed really well, the main spotlight goes to the young innocent Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, despite being accompanied with questionable accuracy of the role's condition that seem to draw some criticism from those with craniofacial disorders.

"Wonder" is a one-of-a-kind, apparently insightful film of a young complication towards acceptance with difficulty and encouragement, being symbolically meaningful and inspirational for the inner self to #choosekind. You'll soon find yourself emotionally uplifted when you experienced the "Wonder" of this wonderful film with a perfect talented cast that put the true emotions on point. (A-).