Wonder (PG) *****
By Alan Samuel
Tis the time for goodwill. Get in the holiday season by taking in Wonder. Made with considerable conviction this outstanding heart-warming tale from EOne Entertainment will leave many a wet eye in The audience. Go ahead and feel the love at special Cineplex Cinemas around BC.
Good fortune by far rests with good health. Happily married are the Pullman clan headed by so much in love Isabel and Nate Pullman. Suitably matched Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson capture the essence of both being in love and always putting putting the welfare and wellbeing of their kids first. Like most parents raising kids is a hard enough task -only for the Pullmans they have a more perilous road to hold. Whole things are fine with their high school daughter young Auggie is “plagued” with a handicap.
No one likes being an outsider. Forced to live in a world not entirely of his making is Jacob Tremblay. Thanks to a physical deformity the young lad must endure all sorts of dilemmas facing childhood. Standing out in a negative way to some leads to taunts and drama and becomes a burden to Auggie and the entire family, just how bad things get and how to cope helps turn Wonder into a superb tale about the underdog facing down your demons and maybe even changing a few minds ( and ultimately hearts)
Given a truly wonderful script from director Stephen Chbosky Wonder turns out to be a heartfelt looking about differences, bullying and coming of age. Throw in a terrific turn by Mandy Patinkin as an educator with the wisdom of Solomon and you have an enduring entertainment experience through and through.
