Wonder

WONDER

Director : Stephen Chbosky

Year : 2017

Genre : Drama

Rating : ****

Having been shamefully snubbed by the Academy for his astonishing turn in Lenny Abrahamson's 2016 masterpiece 'Room', Jacob Tremblay delivers another awards-worthy performance in 'Wonder', Stephen Chbosky's sweet, uplifting and deeply moving adaptation of R.J Palacio's popular 2012 novel of the same name.

In the film, Tremblay plays August 'Auggie' Pullman, a quiet yet friendly young boy born with a rare genetic disorder which in turn has resulted in horrifying facial deformities. Kept hidden away from the prejudices of the world for most of his life, Auggie must now take off the novelty space helmet which hides his face and start on a new journey - that of secondary school. Working through the brilliant prosthetics attached to him, Tremblay is simply marvellous in the central role and as was also the case with the aforementioned 'Room', he gives a remarkably nuanced, incredibly sympathetic performance that far excels those of many of his acting counterparts several decades older.

Auggie is a character whose conditions make him a magnet for pity but unlike other movies which have portrayed the horrors of disability and the fears of ostracism with varying degrees of patronisation, 'Wonder' rather beautifully oversteps the many conventions of the genre and instead explores the various ways in which infirmties can not only affect the victim but everyone in their immediate circle. Told through five separate chapters, the movie tells Auggies remarkable story from the perspectives of those most devoted to him; his concerned yet considerate parents (played quite brilliantly by Oscar-winner Julia Roberts and funnyman Owen Wilson), his loving yet attention-starved sister Via (Izabela Vidovic) who understandably begrudges Auggie of the love he is given, his best friend Jack (Noah Jupe) whose moral conpass is easily swayed by his cruel yet deceptively charming classmates and even Via's estranged best friend Miranda (Danielle Rose Russell) who sees Auggie as the little brother she never had. 

By using this intriguing narrative technique, Chbosky (the author and director of teen weepie 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' (2012)) manages to create a completely rounded and universally relatable view of the situation in which the various characters have unintentionally found themselves as well providing the film with a strong emotional core - and boy, is it emotional. Thanks to movies like 'Logan', 'Manchester by the Sea' and 'Paddington 2', 2017 has provided cinema-goers of all ages plenty to cry about and 'Wonder' certainly has more than its fair share of tear-jerking moments - a particularly memorable scene of unrelenting sadness sees Owen Wilson taking centre stage and giving what may just be the very best performance of his entire career.

Like many of the characters in the film, 'Wonder' isn't without it's flaws. As is typical with school-set dramas, the numerous bullys who harass Auggie are very poorly developed and, as the movie reaches its inevitably happy climax, the saccharine melodrama almost becomes too sweet for its own good. However, these are minor setbacks in what is otherwise a really touching and occasionally very funny drama that should teach its young audience to look beyond outward features and search for the soul that is inside every single one of us. Expertly directed, brilliantly acted and perfectly judged, 'Wonder' is yet another unexpected surprise in what has turned out to be a truly astonishing year for cinema.