Wonder (2017) * * *

Directed by:  Stephen Chbosky

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Izabela Vidovic, Noah Jupe, Daveed Diggs, Mandy Patinkin, Nadji Jeter

Wonder does not make the mistake of laying on the cuteness and schmaltz too thick.   A story of a 10-year-old boy disfigured since birth making his way through his first year of school could easily go in that direction, but Wonder wisely chooses to tell its story from other points of view.    We become involved in the stories of up to three other characters besides Augie (Tremblay, who was magnificent in 2015's Room and very good here), which I didn't expect and was pleasantly surprised to see.

We see Augie at birth, born to kind, sweet, and patient parents Isabel (Roberts) and Nate (Wilson) Pullman, and with various complications which needed 27 surgeries to either correct or at least improve Augie's quality of life somewhat.    Augie's face is deformed, which causes him to wear an astronaut's helmet in hopes of hiding it.     He will soon go to school for the first time after years of homeschooling, which naturally causes concern for his family, including his older sister Via (Vidovic), who has taken a backseat to Augie.    Via loves Augie and despite her jealousy maturely understands why Augie needs so much attention.    Yet, she says it would be nice for her mother to throw a little face time to her once in a while. 

Augie is smart, self-deprecating, and is at first an outcast at school.    Some bullies overtly show their displeasure with him, while others just stare at him enough to make Augie uncomfortable.    Despite this, Augie makes friends with popular boy Jack Will (Jupe) and soon other classmates, although these friendships are tested throughout the school year.    We witness Augie grow and slowly learn not to be the center of his family's universe, although after years of being used to such attention he simply assumes everyone will drop what they are doing to tend to his fits of anger. 

One way Wonder works unexpectedly is not allowing Augie to be a one-dimensional epitome of Cute.    He is allowed to make mistakes, to be a brat, and then learn there are other people in the world with needs besides him.    Tremblay, a gifted actor, navigates these challenges expertly.    While Roberts and Wilson receive top billing, the movie belongs to the kids.     We see Via join the drama club and fall in love, while dealing with the sudden rejection of her longtime friend Miranda who comes home from summer camp and ignores her.    Why does Miranda do this?    We discover the reason from Miranda herself, who is at once part of the Pullman extended family dynamic while also being envious of it.

The adults in the film are played warmly, including Mandy Patinkin as the school principal Mr. Tushman (he shows in a funny scene he has come to terms with his unfortunate surname) and Daveed Diggs as Pullman's teacher who once worked on Wall Street, but now has channeled his passions into teaching.     Although the parents of Augie's main antagonist are painted broadly as snobby, insensitive creeps, there is still a touching moment where their son rises above them.     Roberts and Wilson exhibit a truly warm and loving relationship with a bad cop-good cop thing going. 

Wonder's story arc goes where you think it will, although thank goodness it doesn't end with an unnecessary tragedy thrown in to jerk tears where none are needed.    The movie exists in its powerful moments of revelation, in which the characters learn about themselves and we see them change and grow.     And yes the ending is clichéd (it takes place at a school assembly, where lots of movies wrap things up positively with the stirring music permeating the scene), but even though the movie overstays its welcome by a few minutes and ends with an emotional whimper when it should soar,  Wonder overall is a perceptive film with many moments of genuine power.