Story of being different holds larger lesson for all
“Wonder” is the kind of movie that should be shown to both young and old as a life lesson about how to deal with people who appear to be different.
The film carries a wonderful message about tolerance, acceptance, understanding and respect.
Too often, films offering such lofty visions are presented in a demanding way. “Wonder” is not one of those movies.
Director Stephen Chbosky (“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) manages to make some vital points without sacrificing entertainment, relying on a script lovingly based on the best-selling book by R.J. Palacio and a cast that delivers emotional moments without melodrama.
Auggie (Jacob Tremblay) has been home-schooled all his young life by his mother (Julia Roberts). Homeschooling was necessary because of the physical complications the youngster was born with that required a long string of surgeries. Auggie still has some facial deformities that often draw negative reactions.
By middle school, the decision is made for Auggie to start attending classes with other children. He has the support of his family — including the coolest dad on the planet (Owen Wilson) and a loving sister (Izabela Vidovic) who has largely been an afterthought while all the family energy has been focused on Auggie.
Auggie needs a lot of support as he faces cruel reactions from many of his classmates and is ostracized by those who fear that his medical condition is contagious. The brutal and mean treatment reaches a high degree — the worst form of bullying possible.
The only hope is that Auggie can win over some classmates. That starts with Jack (Noah Jupe), who goes from being a fellow student urged by his mom to be kind to Auggie to understanding the rules of being a true friend.
Jacob plays the role of Auggie with such a natural ease that viewers could easily forget the hours of makeup work required for the role. The performance feels real because Jacob gets across the frustration, pain and unhappiness a youngster would have in such a situation, no matter his medical history.
He doesn’t play Auggie as different, just as a youngster trying to deal with life’s scariness.
Had “Wonder” — both the book and the film — centered only on the effect that a young boy with facial deformities has on the people around him, it would have been an enjoyable tale. But the story and movie entail so much more, offering a broader look at what it’s like to be different.
Overlooking Vidovic’s performance as Auggie’s sister, Via, would be easy because Auggie serves as such a tent pole for the tale. Vidovic’s work softy reveals that she, too, is dealing with major problems — it’s equally interesting watching her navigate the pains and pauses of life as it is seeing Auggie’s growth.
Supporting players such as Via’s ex-best friend, Miranda (Danielle Rose Russell), have their dark issues, too. Miranda struggles with the crippling effects of peer pressure that couldn’t come at a worse time. Via’s new boyfriend has been dealing with the constraints of being an only child.
Even the movie parents — Roberts and Wilson — have their struggles. Both show endless energy for Auggie, but they’re dealing with issues stemming from how, in an instant, life can be put on hold.
All the family and friends stories reinforce the point that everyone has demons, even if they aren’t always obvious. How we help and treat one another is what defines humanity in the world.
“Wonder” not only doesn’t shy from underscoring such serious points; it emphasizes them without becoming preachy.
The technique makes it easier to take the story to heart, not just at face value.