Wonder

Wonder

This is a faithful adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s novel about a boy born with facial disfigurement who, after being home-schooled to age 10, experiences real school and the real world for the first time. The plot follows August “Auggie” Pullman – played with incredible depth by Jacob Tremblay – over the course of a year during which he learns about friendship, alienation, betrayal, integrity, bullying and redemption.

The cast includes powerhouses Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as Auggie’s parents and an incredible ensemble of talented child and teen actors. The device of progressively telling a different character’s story in turn helps provide wider perspective and deeper understanding, avoiding the superficial, one dimensional tropes that afflict so many movies in this genre.

Stephen Chbosky has directed this with sensitivity but also a refreshing degree of understatement so that he manages to achieve genuine warmth and relatability instead of melodrama. It’s definitely a kid’s movie but there’s lots of quirky humour for adults who have to chaperone.

★★★

Reviewed by Rita Bratovich

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