Wonder

Auggie Pullman is a homeschooled fifth grader, born impacted by the Treacher Collins syndrome. Heavy deformities in his facial features took a shocking 27 surgeries to fix it up. He pretty much dwells indoors, having zero contact from people outside his family. So, what happens when he has to finally leave his comfort zone and go out to the world? What are the unimaginable challenges that he would have to face by stepping into a real school for the very first time in his life? Wonder tells this story with wonders!

Family movies have the tendency of being either cheesy or melodramatic. What's wonderful about Wonder is that the balance is beautiful. The script and direction treatment, both kept the film well above those lines. Sure, it is sad to see Auggie being verbally bullied or made fun of. It's even more heartbreaking to witness him cry. But, the makers have counterweighted it with good amount of humor! It's surprising to know how funny this picture actually is! Owen Wilson as Nate Pullman has to be the coolest dad around! His monologues & dialogues are hilarious! Even the protagonist has really memorable lines to make you laugh, or at the very least, smile.

At its core, this is a performance-oriented work, accompanied by excellent writing. Everyone's acting is tip-top! The family feels authentic. The students are pukka. Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, impresses. Of course these actor nuances would have been on paper, but dropping the pencil alike dropping the mic and learning about a person through their footwear since the boy is always looking down to avoid eye contacts are fantastic little character tropes and staples.

Symbols are used at great lengths to reveal character. Auggie wears an astronaut helmet all the time because he is reserved about himself and extremely ashamed of showing his face to the world. On the contrary, his bedroom is galaxy themed, which shows the freedom-yearning kid inside him. Towards the end, the helmet disappears from sight as it has no purpose left in the protagonist's life and story anymore. And the crowd-cheering he envisions, becomes an actual event!

Subplots function for the right reasons, executed by the right method. It all interlocks with the main story that's about the protagonist. One helps the other. Although the arrangement of the subplots in the screenplay may seem like it's shutting off the main story to dive into another storyline, it quickly returns to the primary narrative as an applaudable effort to avoid that mistake from happening. Via's (Izabela Vidovic) life is affected by the presence of her brother. She is in deficiency of attention since his birth. Anytime she gets a little, it’s snatched away. As a result, she is a great listener than a talker. She saves it all to herself, as her time with parents is unavailable. And with the same friendship lost that occurs in her life as with her brother's, our hero learns how to overcome the problem and understand not everything is about him, and life is same and hard for everyone, irrespective of facial appearances.

Even though Jack Will's (Noah Jupe) and Miranda's (Danielle Rose Russell) mirror version of subplots could have been easily eradicated due to the lack of convincing value added as a result of narration-heavy persuasion, the choices they make prove they are changed people. Knowing he may lose his scholarship, Jack Will still throws the punch to defend Auggie. Realizing she may lose the limelight, Miranda still give away the main role to her best friend Via as a family union gift. Tough choices during great pressures reveal true character of a persona! And through the play, the noblest and coolest characters of all in the picture - the parents come to light! What a truly touching moment!

Other scenes such as becoming friends through Minecraft interaction, Auggie imitating hugs and kisses, Ghost Face clue and Star Wars references are nice. The motion picture even deals with the social issue called bullying by giving it a face - Julian (Bryce Gheisar). Flaws wise, Via's conversation with her Grandma is too on the nose. Elle McKinnon as the diva child is unneeded. Daisy the dog's death isn't emotionally resounding as the man's best friend did not participate in the preceding proceedings much. And the biggest gripe would be the totally unnecessary climax fight in the forest! The script should have completely cut that out and move straight to the graduation after some relevant montages. By doing so, it would have prevented itself from overstaying its welcome.

Stephen Chbosky's Wonder is an inspirational piece of celluloid. A roller coaster wheel of emotions. All in all, a sweet little warm pie of moving pictures.