'Wonder' Review

Hayden's Overall Grade: A

Wonder. The title to this amazingly inspiring movie really says everything you need to know about August Pullman. The young boy, who is born with a rare disease that gives him facial abnormalities, is forced to be integrated into a society that sees him as a monster. His struggles and tribulations are shown to full effect and it really makes you feel for little Auggie.

The bullying that August undergoes is really a self-reflection on the way that people treat each other in today's society. It is a sad reality that people judge others on their personal apperance without actually getting to know the person. August Pullman suffers from this same idea as no one wants to get to know August because they are afraid of his apperance. This is the central theme throughout the movie and it is used as the emotional core that keeps the audience invested. The audience will be really happy when August is going through good times and sad when he is bullied. This is because bullying is a very real thing that people can understand how he is feeling in those moments.

The movie does a great job at making this the central theme and making the audience feel the pain that August lives with daily. It shows his pain through his own actions and the stress that the family must endure. The aspect that this movie really shines at is showing that even through all his pain, he is able to inspire the people around him to be better versions of themselves. It is this inspiration that he releases that makes him such a lovable character.

The cast really shines in this film and they all bring their A game. Jacob Tremblay is the breakout star of this film. He portrays the pain August goes through with just a look and really makes you feel for him. Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson shine as the parents of August. Roberts really shows the stress that was put on her with raising a child with disabilities. Her life was put on hold to take care of her child and she got to really show a lot of character growth in going back to her career. Wilson really got to shine in a semi-comedic role as August's dad. He was able to be both touching and funny in moments that really needed it.

Izabela Vidovic was by far my favorite character in the film. She really shined as Olivia Pullman, who is August's older sister. She goes through a lot of suffering in her own right. She is very compassionate towards August's condition but also wishes her parents spent time looking after her. This gives her a lot of room to build her own story. She uses the neglect she receives from her parents to help her evolve and branch out in new areas. The character growth she has, from cautious girl to independent woman, and the way she expresses herself throughout the film is impressive and the growth she shows is a great sub plot to the movie.

Overall I really enjoyed this movie and I felt like it was a really inspiring story. The message was great and it shows people the true way we should treat people. This movie should be showed throughout schools and let kids learn how to treat their fellow students. I loved the emotion that was invoked in me while I was watching this movie and I feel like I learned so much in self reflection.

Recommendation- Please watch this movie. If not for the entertainment, then for simply the message and what this movie will teach you.