Wonder was not a film I expected to surprise me. One view of its trailer and I had a preconceived notion as to what it would encompass. I was uncertain whether such content would be effectively handled by its makers, but nonetheless knew what to expect plot-wise.
Except I was completely wrong.
While I did have the general basis down regarding its facially deformed protagonist Auggie (Jacob Tremblay)—a coming-of-age story about a boy learning to accept himself—I was very off regarding the story’s attention to the people in Auggie’s life. Wonder is not only told from Auggie’s perspective, but also from his sister (Izabela Vidovic), his best friend (Noah Jupe), his sister’s best friend (Danielle Rose Russell), his parents (Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson) and even his bully (Bryce Gheisar). Using the film’s own comparison, Auggie is to the Sun as everyone else is to the planets: while they revolve around Auggie’s story, each one has their own distinct identity and issues. We see how Auggie’s deformity gets him bullied and isolated at school, yet also see his sister Via’s difficulties faced as the child neglected from attention. While not all the perspectives work as fluently as hoped, I cannot overstate how much I appreciate such storytelling directive. Wonder effectively lets its audience understand not only Auggie’s hardships and perspective, but also the characters involved in his life.
When Via goes to confront Auggie on Halloween, the viewer can fully empathize with both sister and brother on a personal level. That alone is a rarity in coming-of-age stories—The Edge of Seventeen tries it to less successful results—but where has a story also given the sister’s estranged best friend’s perspective, allowing the audience to comprehend why she is acting abrasive and distant to Via? Wonder is a wonderous film that refuses to stick to a single viewpoint. I walked into the theaters expecting a good film about a boy with a severe facial deformity and walked out of a very good film about a boy with a severe facial deformity and the people around him. Combined with the film’s creative, thoughtful handling of its subject and all-around great acting—especially its child actors’s impressive performances—makes Wonder a delightful success.
