'Wonder' Movie Review: A Wonderful Standing Ovation for an Amazing Message

“Everyone deserves a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” I’ve never heard something from a child so gripping and inspiring as this one. Directed by “The Perks of Being a Wallflower’s” Stephen Chbosky, “Wonder” follows the inspiring story of Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), a 10-year-old kid with mandibulofacial dysostosis, a facial deformity also known as Treacher Collins Syndrome. It’s hard enough for his part to live with this kind of condition, but when his mom, Isabel (Julia Roberts), decides to put him in a regular school finally, things take a change for the better—at least, in the end.

Introducing… Auggie.

First off, Auggie is an impressive boy from the get-go. He’s an insanely talented science geek who’s in love with “Star Wars” and outer space. Despite being born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, Auggie is surprisingly psychologically strong, all thanks to his parents and his sister Via. However, whenever he goes outside, he likes to wear an astronaut helmet that completely hides his face. But you get invested in Auggie’s story; you’ll never even notice his facial features, let alone him wearing the helmet.

After being a home-schooled kid his entire life, Isabel and his Dad Nate (Owen Wilson) does the unthinkable and puts Auggie in a regular school. His ever-supportive sister Via (Izabela Vidovic) cheers him on, despite her issues with herself. As soon as his first day starts, it goes on very rough for him. True, the teachers are more accepting and kind, but of course, with Beecher Preparatory School full of pre-teen kids, they won’t be that forgiving upon seeing Auggie.  He’s a walking eyesore, and frankly, a shock to see for the first time. Seemingly taking off from David Lynch’s 1980 movie, “The Elephant Man,” Auggie’s story is something that doesn’t only break the barriers of bullying and discrimination.; it’s a story that powerfully guides the audience in Auggie’s harsh realities, albeit humorous instances.
Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin), Beecher Prep’s principal, tries his best to make everything comfortable for Auggie. Then we have his two teachers, Mr. Browne (Daveed Diggs) from English Lit and Ms. Petosa (Ali Liebert) from Physics class, who never failed to help Auggie and his classmates learn something a little more than what the curriculum dictates. It’s none other than the fundamental principle of being kind and how actions have their consequences.

Of course, the movie doesn’t leave Auggie a one-man band, as he also has his newfound friends to seek comfort from—the inherently good-natured and inclusive Jack Will (Noah Jupe) and the shy but caring Summer (Millie Davis). Apart from that, Auggie also suffers from bullying, all thanks to Julian (Bryce Gheisar) and his ragtag group of middle school bad boys. Back home, the Pullman family isn’t without flaws as well. Despite Isabel and Nate’s great job at keeping Auggie safe and somewhat free from the emotional weight of what others think, they also tend to shun Via away, without it ever being their intention. That makes her feel alienated and alone, which also helps her use it to her advantage—being the understanding big sister.
But the best thing about “Wonder,” is that it doesn’t only explore Auggie’s life, but also the lives of those around him. As the story progresses, it shows a glimpse of Via, Jack Will, and even Via’s best friend Miranda’s (Danielle Rose Russell) lives. Each of them left a significant impact on Auggie’s life, and it’s amazing how they got to shape Auggie into being the beacon of kindness that he is. It’s only through learning about each of their lives do we get to see how the out-of-place Auggie finally finds his purpose in this reality.

What sets ‘Wonder’ apart

“Wonder” tells us that being different can be normal. It tells us that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. It’s a film that doesn’t only focus on the outward appearance but acts as the story of the downtrodden, the cast out, the freak. “Wonder” is a compelling story of the underdog. I know, you can almost categorize it as a cliché movie, but that’s the thing about these kinds of flicks—it forces you to think, and then it makes you aware of yourself. The film dwells on the genuine human connection and the basic principle of good. Kindness in itself is such a simple word, but often a hard thing to execute. “Wonder” makes you evaluate yourself and drives reality straight to our faces. It has all the elements of a touching narrative that establishes a person’s soul and authenticity, often making you see the good-natured character rather than looking at his visible flaws. Auggie is a person with an unfortunate physical design but exudes his tremendously good heart.

Chbosky deserves all the praise for fleshing out a coherent story with an impressive cast. Roberts and Wilson are welcome actors to see in a family movie like “Wonder.” Roberts, as always, gives a stellar performance that goes side by side with Wilson. Noah Jupe is an exceptional child actor, with his innocence and pure intentions helping in adding a substantial amount of conflict to Auggie’s narrative. But of course, it’s Tremblay who gets the cake, nailing a particularly complicated character (both physically and mentally) and driving genuine emotion underneath the thick prosthetics and makeup. He’s proved to be one of the best child actors of the year, and I have nothing but admiration and respect. His groundbreaking acting steers the film to a wonderful success.
Maybe you’ve felt like everything and everyone around you just doesn’t jive with who you are. Perhaps you’ve gone through such a traumatic experience that you can’t even speak for yourself. Maybe, just maybe, you’re precisely in Auggie’s shoes. It’s hard to imagine someone going through this and being ostracized for who and what they are. In this age, the movie comes in a particularly timely manner.
We all need kindness, and “Wonder” teaches us that it’s the only thing that can help bring about change, understanding, and healing—one step at a time.