Movie Title: Wonder
Grade: PG
Rating: A
In a Nutshell: Based on the New York Times bestseller by R.J. Palacio, Wonder
features 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.
MOVIE REVIEW MOM
@trinaboice
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