Wonder Movie Review

 

 

Wonder Movie Review

The best Christmas movie of 2017 has got to be “Wonder”,  starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson.   I don’t know if Wonder was meant specifically to be a Christmas movie, since the movie spans the fifth grade year of Auggie Pullman, but we do get to see them celebrate Christmas.  What makes it the perfect Christmas movie is the story and the way it makes you feel.

Auggie Pullman has TCS (Treacher Collins syndrome).  He looks different; the kind of different that makes people stare.  His mom (Julia Roberts) has been homeschooling him but now he’s going to middle school.

For a feel good flick, this movie has a lot of layers.  The story is about Auggie and his hero’s journey into the trials of middle school.  Where this movie shines though, is that we get also get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of all those close to Auggie, adding depth and substance to the story.

The movie takes a look at humanity; our insecurities and weaknesses.  It looks at family and friendship.  It looks at bullying and the way people choose to deal with it.  Above all the overwhelming message is to be kind to others because you never know what they might be dealing with.  Everyone is on their own hero’s journey.

In Auggie’s words: “If you really want to know what people are all about, all you have to do is look.”

The movie is based on the New York bestseller by the same name – Wonder by R.J. Palacio. She was inspired to write the novel after an incident where she took her three year old son for ice cream and he started to cry after seeing a girl with facial birth defects.  She tried to remove her son from the situation so that his crying wouldn’t upset the little girl but only ended up making matters worse.

After listening to the lyrics of Wonder by Natalie Merchant, a song about “…a child born with congenital disease”, she started writing her novel in the hope that it would inspire people to be more compassionate.

This movie will make you smile, laugh and cry, sometimes all at the same time.  It’s rated PG because of some scenes of bullying, but there isn’t anything too intense, and I highly recommend this gem for the whole family.