I really didn't have much interest in seeing Wonder leading up to its release. Despite an array of appealing elements, it's a film that barely popped up on my radar, which is honestly kind of surprising. After all, this is a film that stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay, three very different performers who have all done great work before. However I rarely go see movies because of actors, so it's easy to see why I didn't care much about that aspect. In retrospect though, it's rather shocking that I wasn't more intrigued by director Stephen Chbosky's follow-up to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, one of the greatest teen dramas of the decade. But there was something about the way Wonder was positioned as a treacly, overly sentimental drama, the kind of movie that would be more likely to annoy me than lift my spirits. This is definitely a dismissive stance on a movie I knew little about, but even though I see many more films than most normal human beings, I still make assumptions about whatever I'm about to see.
And to put it simply, I was dead wrong about Wonder. Usually I can get a good read on a film, but I'm happy to say that my intuition was way off when it comes to Stephen Chbosky's second feature. Sure, Wonder feels very familiar, and its appeal is firmly rooted in its feel-good spirit. And yeah, I think it's 15 minutes too long and far too devoted to giving every single character a happy ending that's tied up nicely with a bow. But what could feel cutesy or overly quirky in a lesser film feels genuine and nuanced here- even if you know you're being manipulated by the storytelling, its hard not to succumb to the emotional power of this journey. Thanks to several critical shifts in narrative perspective, honest and powerful performances, and the natural, easy-going filmmaking by Chbosky, Wonder is a joyful, surprisingly effective delight.
Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) has suffered from a facial deformity since birth, going through several intense surgeries and medical procedures even at an extremely young age. Knowing full well the willful and incidental cruelty of young children, Auggie's mother, Isabel (Julia Roberts), opts to home-school him throughout his elementary years. But deep down inside Isabel and Auggie's father, Nate (Owen Wilson), know that at some point, he'll have to go to a real school. Since fifth grade is a transition year for everyone, Auggie decides that it's time to make the jump to the terrors of middle school. Isabel and Nate are terrified, but Auggie pushes through. Of course, it isn't the easiest ride for him. He's bullied relentlessly by rich kid Julian (Bryce Gheisar) and his cronies, who make crude comparisons to Darth Sidious and send him unfathomably mean notes.
But then again, it isn't exactly easy for anyone in Auggie's orbit. His sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), is struggling with the loss of her grandmother, who was maybe the only person who put Via's concerns and problems over Auggie. When she had Auggie, Isabel shelved her long-in-development thesis, abandoning her life's work for the child who needed her. And then there's Jack Will (Noah Jupe), the first real friend Auggie makes while at school. He's a genuinely nice kid and always wants to be friends with Auggie, but he has to reconcile the fact that Auggie is the punching bag of the school, even among his other friends. As these troubles become more prevalent throughout the school year, Auggie and everyone around him will slowly find a way to heal, becoming more and more understanding of his struggles and their own.
So much about Wonder seems so very easy. On the surface, this movie is crowd-pleasing audience bait, a film that is practically begging for tears and applause. It's hard not to feel bad for Auggie, and it would be extremely simple to tell his story in a way that would connect with viewers. I think this is why I shunned it for so long, and it's partially due to a marketing campaign that was just doing a good job of selling a movie to a specific crowd. Thankfully for us, Wonder subverts expectations at every turn, opting for complexity and nuance where simplicity would suffice in a lesser film. It's easy to empathize with Auggie and his tragic torment, but it's a bit more of a challenge to convey the feelings of someone like Via or Jack Will, people who would fall to the periphery in a normal crowd-pleaser. The film utilizes a chapter structure that allows each character (except for Isabel and Nate, oddly enough) to tell their version of the events, elaborating on how Auggie impacted them in both positive and negative ways.
Essentially, Wonder has a keen understanding of an often-ignored and somewhat uncomfortable truth- it isn't easy to know someone who's different. It takes courage to stand up to your friends when they're in the wrong, and it takes enormous strength to put your own needs aside in favor of someone who needs the love more than you. That's a shockingly insightful message for a PG movie aimed at kids, and it's Chbosky's refusal to ever take the easy route that makes Wonder such an engaging, heart-warming watch. The film never treats Auggie as an infallible character, and it gives each and every individual a sense of dignity and humanity, almost to a fault at times. Wonder takes an already emotional premise and digs even deeper, finding pathos and kindness in even the most minor of characters and the smallest of touches. It's a continually surprising movie, and I found myself getting choked up at unexpected moments.
Of course, while much of the credit goes to Chbosky, Wonder's most powerful scenes wouldn't be possible without its charming, outrageously good cast. Amusingly enough, the best performances don't come from the big stars. Sure, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson are great, but they're just the anchor for the bigger picture, allowing rising stars and veteran performers like the eloquent Mandy Patinkin to flourish. Jacob Tremblay already proved his mettle in Room, but here, he strikes a wonderful balance between clever wit and true sadness, alternating between a million dollar smile and some emotional breakdowns that are heartbreaking. But Tremblay isn't the only young rising star in Wonder, and he's often upstaged at times by both Noah Jupe and Izabela Vidovic. As the kind (and conflicted) Jack Will, Jupe continues to display a talent for subtlety and charm, establishing himself as a young actor to watch. Vidovic has the benefit of playing with the most unexpected arc in the entire film, and she does wonderful, precise work as a genuinely sympathetic character.
Even though it contains multitudes, Wonder is still a very nice movie, and that probably is the single biggest factor that consistently holds it back. While the film depicts the reality of bullying and the brutality of Auggie's peers, it feels like it needs to redeem everyone. Now, look, this is a movie aimed at children and I really don't have a problem with a message of universal redemption, especially when dealing with kids that are so young. But the way that Chbosky turns around the bullies harms the narrative, resulting in about 15 extra minutes of fat added onto the film, stretching the limits of the story and the audience's sense of goodwill. The film is tightly constructed and beautifully told for so much of the runtime that the final act feels a little sloppy in its execution, full of unnecessary scenes and bizarre red herrings. For a movie that grabbed me so immediately, I was frustrated by the way that Wonder tied everything together.
Nonetheless, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an extraordinarily likable film. Even viewers who are determined not to enjoy this film will ultimately be swept up in the emotion and honesty of the story, understanding these characters and situations on some fundamental level. Wonder may seem simplistic or syrupy, but I promise there's rich material to be found here, and Chbosky's ability to mostly resist the urge to go for the low-hanging fruit makes for a compelling watch. Chbosky doesn't have much in the way of flash or directorial style, but he has an eye for character that cannot be denied, and his expert storytelling blend of profound sadness and pure elation creates a marvelous concoction. Twisting conventions and charting its own path at every turn, Wonder is a terrific second act for a filmmaker to watch.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (7.9/10)
Images courtesy of Lionsgate
And to put it simply, I was dead wrong about Wonder. Usually I can get a good read on a film, but I'm happy to say that my intuition was way off when it comes to Stephen Chbosky's second feature. Sure, Wonder feels very familiar, and its appeal is firmly rooted in its feel-good spirit. And yeah, I think it's 15 minutes too long and far too devoted to giving every single character a happy ending that's tied up nicely with a bow. But what could feel cutesy or overly quirky in a lesser film feels genuine and nuanced here- even if you know you're being manipulated by the storytelling, its hard not to succumb to the emotional power of this journey. Thanks to several critical shifts in narrative perspective, honest and powerful performances, and the natural, easy-going filmmaking by Chbosky, Wonder is a joyful, surprisingly effective delight.
Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) has suffered from a facial deformity since birth, going through several intense surgeries and medical procedures even at an extremely young age. Knowing full well the willful and incidental cruelty of young children, Auggie's mother, Isabel (Julia Roberts), opts to home-school him throughout his elementary years. But deep down inside Isabel and Auggie's father, Nate (Owen Wilson), know that at some point, he'll have to go to a real school. Since fifth grade is a transition year for everyone, Auggie decides that it's time to make the jump to the terrors of middle school. Isabel and Nate are terrified, but Auggie pushes through. Of course, it isn't the easiest ride for him. He's bullied relentlessly by rich kid Julian (Bryce Gheisar) and his cronies, who make crude comparisons to Darth Sidious and send him unfathomably mean notes.
But then again, it isn't exactly easy for anyone in Auggie's orbit. His sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), is struggling with the loss of her grandmother, who was maybe the only person who put Via's concerns and problems over Auggie. When she had Auggie, Isabel shelved her long-in-development thesis, abandoning her life's work for the child who needed her. And then there's Jack Will (Noah Jupe), the first real friend Auggie makes while at school. He's a genuinely nice kid and always wants to be friends with Auggie, but he has to reconcile the fact that Auggie is the punching bag of the school, even among his other friends. As these troubles become more prevalent throughout the school year, Auggie and everyone around him will slowly find a way to heal, becoming more and more understanding of his struggles and their own.
So much about Wonder seems so very easy. On the surface, this movie is crowd-pleasing audience bait, a film that is practically begging for tears and applause. It's hard not to feel bad for Auggie, and it would be extremely simple to tell his story in a way that would connect with viewers. I think this is why I shunned it for so long, and it's partially due to a marketing campaign that was just doing a good job of selling a movie to a specific crowd. Thankfully for us, Wonder subverts expectations at every turn, opting for complexity and nuance where simplicity would suffice in a lesser film. It's easy to empathize with Auggie and his tragic torment, but it's a bit more of a challenge to convey the feelings of someone like Via or Jack Will, people who would fall to the periphery in a normal crowd-pleaser. The film utilizes a chapter structure that allows each character (except for Isabel and Nate, oddly enough) to tell their version of the events, elaborating on how Auggie impacted them in both positive and negative ways.
Essentially, Wonder has a keen understanding of an often-ignored and somewhat uncomfortable truth- it isn't easy to know someone who's different. It takes courage to stand up to your friends when they're in the wrong, and it takes enormous strength to put your own needs aside in favor of someone who needs the love more than you. That's a shockingly insightful message for a PG movie aimed at kids, and it's Chbosky's refusal to ever take the easy route that makes Wonder such an engaging, heart-warming watch. The film never treats Auggie as an infallible character, and it gives each and every individual a sense of dignity and humanity, almost to a fault at times. Wonder takes an already emotional premise and digs even deeper, finding pathos and kindness in even the most minor of characters and the smallest of touches. It's a continually surprising movie, and I found myself getting choked up at unexpected moments.
Of course, while much of the credit goes to Chbosky, Wonder's most powerful scenes wouldn't be possible without its charming, outrageously good cast. Amusingly enough, the best performances don't come from the big stars. Sure, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson are great, but they're just the anchor for the bigger picture, allowing rising stars and veteran performers like the eloquent Mandy Patinkin to flourish. Jacob Tremblay already proved his mettle in Room, but here, he strikes a wonderful balance between clever wit and true sadness, alternating between a million dollar smile and some emotional breakdowns that are heartbreaking. But Tremblay isn't the only young rising star in Wonder, and he's often upstaged at times by both Noah Jupe and Izabela Vidovic. As the kind (and conflicted) Jack Will, Jupe continues to display a talent for subtlety and charm, establishing himself as a young actor to watch. Vidovic has the benefit of playing with the most unexpected arc in the entire film, and she does wonderful, precise work as a genuinely sympathetic character.
Even though it contains multitudes, Wonder is still a very nice movie, and that probably is the single biggest factor that consistently holds it back. While the film depicts the reality of bullying and the brutality of Auggie's peers, it feels like it needs to redeem everyone. Now, look, this is a movie aimed at children and I really don't have a problem with a message of universal redemption, especially when dealing with kids that are so young. But the way that Chbosky turns around the bullies harms the narrative, resulting in about 15 extra minutes of fat added onto the film, stretching the limits of the story and the audience's sense of goodwill. The film is tightly constructed and beautifully told for so much of the runtime that the final act feels a little sloppy in its execution, full of unnecessary scenes and bizarre red herrings. For a movie that grabbed me so immediately, I was frustrated by the way that Wonder tied everything together.
Nonetheless, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an extraordinarily likable film. Even viewers who are determined not to enjoy this film will ultimately be swept up in the emotion and honesty of the story, understanding these characters and situations on some fundamental level. Wonder may seem simplistic or syrupy, but I promise there's rich material to be found here, and Chbosky's ability to mostly resist the urge to go for the low-hanging fruit makes for a compelling watch. Chbosky doesn't have much in the way of flash or directorial style, but he has an eye for character that cannot be denied, and his expert storytelling blend of profound sadness and pure elation creates a marvelous concoction. Twisting conventions and charting its own path at every turn, Wonder is a terrific second act for a filmmaker to watch.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (7.9/10)
Images courtesy of Lionsgate
Comments
Post a Comment