Wonder (Jacob Tremblay)

(Amazon UK link)

Sometimes, when I add something to my wishlist after an Amazon recommendation, it turns out to be a good choice. Sometimes acceptable, sometimes very good. And just occasionally we find a film that is outstanding. Based on a novel (which I had not heard of) ‘Wonder’ comes in the last category. It’s one of the best films we have seen for a long time.

I expect the film was recommended to me because I have given good ratings to other films with Julia Roberts in it. But it’s not Julia Roberts who stars in this. She plays an excellent supporting role as a mother of a child with severe facial disfigurement. But the child himself, Augie, is the star of this wonderful story. Played by the young Canadian actor Jacob Tremblay, Augie is a ten-year-old boy who was born with a severe genetic condition.

Over the years, we learn, Augie has been in hospital many times undergoing different surgeries. His sight and hearing have been restored, and a great deal of plastic surgery means that his face, while unusual, is not unpleasant or difficult to look at. He has been homeschooled so far, but his parents feel that he should go to ‘Middle School’ for fifth grade.

Augie finds his face embarrassing and usually goes about wearing a space helmet. But the school principal and staff do all they can to help him adjust. He is very bright, particularly gifted in science. But one boy in his year verbally bullies him, and at first Augie is either ignored or shunned. He finds his first few days miserable, but gradually children get to know the real person inside. He’s kind, helpful, and has a great sense of humour…

There are other stories in this film too. The second part of the film features Augie’s older sister Via (Izabela Vidovik). She’s a likeable girl who has evidently felt neglected, sometimes unloved, as her parents focus all their attention on her brother. She knows it’s not his fault, and she understands. She just wishes she could talk to her parents and spend time with them. Then her best friend stops speaking to her too, and life looks grim until she’s invited to the school drama club…

It’s a film about the importance of looking beyond appearance, about honesty and friendship, and about unconditional love. There are some very poignant moments as well as some amusing scenes; the pace is excellent and we found ourselves engrossed in the story, barely noticing Augie’s different appearance after the first few scenes. And towards the end I found myself moved to tears in an emotive conclusion to the film.

The acting is excellent; Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson make believable parents, and some of the most amusing exchanges are between Augie and his dad. The school staff, particularly the head and Augie’s form teacher, are entirely believable, and the classmates too in their reactions and behaviour.

The rating is PG, which seems about right to me. There are a couple of quite intense scenes with some fighting, although it’s fairly tame and nobody is seriously injured. There’s no ‘strong’ language, and no scenes of intimacy, though there are some childish slang terms and some kissing.

We were slightly disappointed that there was no 'extra' documentary about the making of the film; there was just one brief one about the music (something which was good, but we barely noticed it). However there are some short YouTube films available explaining - for instance - how Jacob Tremblay was made up each day to look like Augie.

All in all, we loved this film and would recommend it highly to anyone, including children of about eight or nine and upwards.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews