Wonder

Anyone who has been following my movie ramblings knows that I usually read the book that a movie is based on.  “Wonder” was no exception, so I knew exactly what to expect from the plot of this movie.  AND I STILL CRIED!!  This is a very thoughtful and gentle movie told with compassion and empathy.  For those of you who aren’t familiar, this is the story of Auggie Pullman, born with terrible facial deformities that have necessitated over 20 operations.  Auggie, doesn’t like to go out without his astronaut helmet on to cover his face, which has caused small children to cry and adults to turn away.  Luckily his mother, played with moving compassion by Julia Roberts, has been able to home school him.  However, it is time for Auggie to find his way in the world and his parents decide he is ready to try a small private school where he will enter fifth grade as a middle schooler.   As you can imagine, many children are not kind to Auggie, but this movie ends up being a Valentine to all who have every been victimized by a bully.  Auggie is played with tremendous pathos and humor by Jacob Tremblay who manages to seem very human even under tons of prosthetics and make up.  Owen Wilson is just right as his supportive dad and Izabela Vidovic is great as the neglected sister who never gives up on her little brother.  I give the film makers  kudos for making this movie feel real and not making it too overly sappy.  The simple message of this story, “Be Kind” will resonant with many long after the credits have stopped rolling.