Movie Title: Wonder
Grade: PG
Rating: A
In a Nutshell: Based on the New York Times bestseller by R.J. Palacio, Wonderfeatures a talented cast in an uplifting, heartwarming, and inspiring movie that teaches us all to be a little more kind with one another.
As Mr. Brown’s precept on the chalkboard says, “When given a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”
As Mr. Brown’s precept on the chalkboard says, “When given a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”
The prosthetics and make-up used on Jacob Tremblay are truly a Wonder. There is enough humor to balance out the emotional moments. Speaking of emotional moments, you WILL cry. A few times. Bring tissue.
The kids who sat in the audience with me loved it. It’s a Wonder when both parents and kids can find a movie that they equally like.
Uplifting theme:
- Who do you aspire to be?” – Mr. Brown (Daveed Diggs)
- “You can’t blend in if you were born to stand out.” – Via ( the lovely Izabela Vidovic)
- “Everyone deserves a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” – Auggie
- “Your deeds are your monuments.” – Mr. Brown’s Precept on the classroom wall. Summer explains that it means, “The things that we do are things that matter the most.”
- “Oh Earth, you’re too wonderful for anyone to realize you.” – Via (while acting in the school play of Our Town.)
Things I liked:
- Jacob Tremblay does an incredible job as August Pullman. He has developed quite an impressive filmography for such a young kid. He starred in the Room, The Book of Henry, Shut In, Before I Wake [Blu-ray], and even The Smurfs 2. His real sister, Emma, is also in the movie and plays
- I liked how the story is told through various people’s perspective. It’s not just a movie about Auggie, but all of the characters who have their own challenges and growth.
- Some of the kids are really adorable, especially Jacob Tremblay (Auggie), Millie Davis (Summer), and Noah Jupe (who played Matt Damon’s kid in Suburbicon.)
- I got a kick out of all the Star Wars references and the audience laughed every time Chewbaca showed up.
- Someone makes a very kind sacrifice that truly impressed me. I know, I know…it’s fiction.
- This movie hit theaters the same day as the JUSTICE LEAGUE. You’ll see a REAL Wonder Woman in the role of Auggie’s mom, played by the wonderful Julia Roberts. SPOILER: She looks very comely in the beginning of the movie, but by the end, she appears more hip in an intentional “don’t judge people’s appearances kind of way” and a subtle evidence of how she was completely dedicated to Auggie when she homeschooled him and finally found herself by the end of the movie.
- After starring in Broadway’s hit Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [Clean], the talented Daveed Diggs has been busy working on films lately and has a small, but important role in this one.
Things I didn’t like:
- Yeah, some of the teary moments are manipulative, but they still worked on me.
- Cliché standing ovation scenes that almost every middle-grade movie has lately.
- The bully’s parents were ridiculous. The mom seemed over-the-top. I sure hope parents like that don’t actually exist.
- They live in an expensive Brownstone in New York City. What exactly does Owen Wilson’s character do for a living? We never learn that, but he’s able to send Auggie to a private school and still have plenty of time to spend with his family. Fiction, indeed.
Funny lines:
- “Have you ever thought of plastic surgery?” – Jack Will (Noah Jupe)
“Dude! This IS after plastic surgery! It takes a lot of work to look this good.” – Auggie
- “What evil man invented Dodgeball?” – Auggie
Interesting lines:
- “Why are you sitting here?” – Auggie
“Because I want some nice friends for a change.” – Summer
“Me too.” – Auggie
- “Good friends are worth defending.” – Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin)
- “Not everything in the world is about you.” – Via
- “Real friends are hard to find.” – Auggie
- “Auggie can’t change the way he looks. Maybe we can change the way we see.” – Mr. Tushman
- “We all have marks on our face. This is the map that shows us where we’re going and these are the marks that show where we’ve been.” – Isabel Pullman (I loved that sentiment, especially as I age and get more wrinkles!)
Tips for parents:
- Bullying
- Fist fight among boys
- SPOILER: A sad death
- Julia Roberts shows her kids a floppy disc and they have no idea what it is. Ha ha
- Two kids cheat during a test.
- The middle school does the play Our Town.” Your kids may not know anything about it. You should watch the old movie!
- A kid gets angry and throws something.
- The disease that Auggie has is called mandibulofactuallyacial dystosis, also known as “Treacher Collins syndrome.” Jacob Tremblay visited children who actually have it to prepare for his role as Auggie.
@trinaboice
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