I’m writing this on Saturday, November 18, Owen Wilson’s 49th birthday. Last night was the opening of the touslehaired actor’s latest film — an adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s 2012 best seller — but I doubt he celebrated the occasion. I know I didn’t.
Watching Wonder, I felt as though someone had set off a sap bomb. Directed and cowritten by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), it’s the sort of sentimental button pusher in which every development is apparent from miles away. Since my seat was several feet from the screen, I’d intuited its 113 minutes before the first Goobers hit my stomach.
One hesitates to detail the film’s failures, as it’s based on a beloved novel about the need for kindness. I’m not anti-kindness. I’m anti-schmaltz. The novel is one thing; this is something else. The kindest thing I can say is that it makes a great case for bypassing the multiplex and beelining it to a bookstore.
Jacob Tremblay stars as Auggie Pullman, a plucky 10-year-old who’s undergone 27 surgeries to address craniofacial deformities resulting from a rare genetic mutation. His doting parents are played by Wilson and Julia Roberts. We learn early on that they’ve decided the time has come to transition from home study to school.
Auggie has always worn a space helmet in public. His father coaxes him into removing it before meeting classmates for the first time, and the revelation is shocking: He looks … um, pretty normal.
Compared with real-life kids suffering from the condition — typically born without eye sockets, cheekbones or ears — Chbosky’s Auggie is borderline physically typical. OK, his beak’s a tad funky, but not a lot more than Wilson’s (savvy casting!). That’s the first sign that the edges of Palacio’s text have been smoothed to go down easy.
The next is Mandy Patinkin as Mr. Tushman, the world’s nicest middle school principal. He’s so invested in his new student’s success that he assembles a pint-size posse to show Auggie the ropes. Like all the film’s characters, they’re one-dimensional — nice kid Jack (Noah Jupe), wacky girl Charlotte (Elle McKinnon) and total trust-fund tool Julian (Bryce Gheisar).
If you’ve ever watched a movie about a kid trying to fit in at a school, camp or dystopian survival training course, it won’t surprise you that Auggie initially gets the cold shoulder from some peers. What will surprise you is how quickly everybody starts falling all over themselves to make him feel accepted. Maybe it’s Tushman trickle-down, but people are so nice it’s unreal.
Except Julian. He’s a privileged dick with insecurity issues. But mostly he’s just there to provide the requisite narrative conflict.
Ultimately, Wonder proves little more than a laundry list of developments geared to jerk tears. Auggie’s sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), hungers for attention and bonds with her grandmother (Sonia Braga); her grandmother dies. The family dog, Daisy, provides a needed sense of normalcy; Daisy dies. A secondary sap bomb goes off in the final act. “Shameless” doesn’t begin to cover it.
Tremblay’s earnest performance grounds the film in a facsimile of reality, while Roberts and Vidovic valiantly attempt to fill in psychological blanks left by the simple-minded script. Wilson’s part is so underwritten, it could’ve been played by a tousled Chia Pet.
Particularly in this Trump-fueled age of moral repugnance, ugly tweets and public mockery of people with disabilities, I embrace Palacio’s themes of kindness and understanding as passionately as anyone. It’s using them as an excuse for schlock like this that I can’t help but find grotesque.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Wonder”
This article appears in Nov 22-28, 2017.
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I’ve never heard of Mr. Kisonak, but judging by his review, I’m guessing he’s an old curmudgeon who in his spare time sits on his porch yelling at any young children passing by to keep moving and stay off his lawn!
Roger Ebert gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Rotten tomatoes says 4 1/2 out of five. The New York Times wrote, ” “Wonder is that rare thing, a family picture that moves and amuses while never overtly pandering.”
And, Variety said: “A drama of disarmingly level-headed empathy that glides along with wit, assurance, and grace, and has something touching and resonant to say about the current climate of American bullying.”
I hate to call bullshit here, but you are off base about so many of the films you critique, I’ve got serious doubts you watch them in their entirety. Especially since you “intuited” the “following 115 minutes” of the film. It’s time to hang up your reviewer’s hat.
This has gone on far too long.
We found the movie to be thoroughly enjoyable. Simple but engaging. We got what we expected, entertained and feeling good leaving the theater.
The theater was full, hardly an empty seat in the house.
Rick Kisonak wouldn’t know a good movie if it hit him in the freaking head! My son read the book and said it was very true to the book. If you like the book, you will like the movie and forget about what this supposed critic thinks as he is in the very vast minority!
The movie honors the book. The reviewer fails to realize the book is aimed at 5th graders. The film was made so kids 9 and up could see a family film together. And the film delivers. There are funny, light scenes. Heartwarming scenes. And a few poignant scenes too.
The performances were solid. My daughter loved the book and the film. I smiled and wiped my eyes for 2 hours straight.
Wilson’s role is underwritten because the Mom and Dad are minor characters in the book. The book is written through the eyes of the children and teens.
After reading the review, I can only wonder if a small child reviews an Oscar Winning drama and calls it a bore, Does that mean the movie stinks? If a 92-year-old Grandma with no interest in Superhero movies pans the recent Spiderman film, does that mean Marvel movies stink? This critic fails to recognize the film was made for families.
Wonder deserves 4 Stars if you like happy/sad family films. And 3 stars if family films are not your cup of tea.
Mr. Kisonak,
Thanks for an honest review. The subject matter makes it difficult to say a harsh word and give an honest criticism. Kids are way smarter than this movie and deserve better. One thing I would add to your comments is if wasn’t obvious to you what you are supposed be feeling and thinking from the plot the musical score will make sure to drive the point through your skull. An absolutely dreadful movie. If you want to share a genuine message of acceptance with your children that isn’t completely facile rent Mask.
Counterpoint: I don’t want to read reviews from people capable of enjoying movies for 5th graders.
Keep paying for Rick’s popcorn and publishing his cantankerous dispatches from “the vast minority.” Thank you.