Wonder **½ (2017, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin, Izabela Vidovic) – Movie Review

Lionsgate is the studio that started developing this feature film adaptation of R J Palacio’s debut novel Wonder right back in 2012. It proved a good decision. It has already grossed $73 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. After John Krokidas and Paul King both moved on, Stephen Chbosky signed on to direct the film.

Co-writer/ director Stephen Chbosky’s old-fashioned 2017 family drama tells the true-to-life heart-warming story of August ‘Auggie’ Pullman, who is bullied – in a kindly, caring sort of way – by his bossy mom (Julia Roberts) into finally entering the real world and the local upper Manhattan private school at fifth grade despite being born with a very rare facial deformity (Treacher Collins syndrome).

[Spoiler alert] At school, too, he is bullied, actually bullied, and ostracised, but also eventually befriended and of course finally accepted.

There are no surprises or hard edges in this achingly nice, straightforward film. It is smooth, well polished and honed in all departments, a thoroughly professional piece of work. It is so sincere and heart-warming that it is hard to resist being gently manipulated. But something edgier, deeper and darker – may a bit more real seeming – would be loads better.

It is generally well acted, though nothing outstanding. Roberts is brisk and capable though fairly chilly as Mama Isabel, getting the job down quite tidily, but Owen Wilson adds a bit of welcome, much-needed humour, warmth and charm as her pathetically downtrodden wimp of a hubby, Nate.

Jacob Tremblay is okay as Auggie, Noah Jupe is good as his best friend at school Jack Will, Daveed Diggs is good as English teacher Mr Browne, and Mandy Patinkin is okay as the wise school head Mr Tushman. But it is mainly a winsome star vehicle for Roberts.

[Spoiler alert] The story kicks up some issues. Honestly, I didn’t get how Jack could betray Auggie like he does, and Auggie could ever forgive him, let alone return to best friends status. The family, as portrayed, just seem a bit too good to be true. Maybe all this could all happened, and exactly like this, but the movie doesn’t quite ring true. It feels like the Disney version of people’s lives.

Packed with its share of cliches and caricatures, Chbosky, Jack Thorne and Steve Conrad’s sweet, sentimental and simple screenplay is based on Palacio’s New York Times bestselling novel. It means well, very well, and is really nice, but it is nowhere as good as the 1985 Mask.

Tremblay’s prosthetic makeup is designed by Arjen Tuiten. With a skull cap with prosthetic ears, a facial prosthetic and a wig, it took an hour and half to apply.

Marcelo Zarvos composes the score.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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