Wonder

— This is a better film than you might expect given the storyline that seems tailored to tug at your heartstrings. It is a glimpse at the life of a boy with a craniofacial condition who, after many surgeries, still is noticeably different from the rest of his classmates as he enters 5th grade after being home-schooled until then. It ends up being a thoughtful, heartwarming look at his experience told by multiple narrators, allowing for different perspectives. In a way, it’s just a film about being kind, but that’s no small thing. Julia Roberts makes acting look easy and is part of the reason the film stays linked to reality instead of ending up a sentimental mess, and Owen Wilson is both believable and brings a bit of humor to things. The film does what it does well and was a good way to spend a couple of hours and feel better for it.

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[2017. 113 min. Directed by Stephen Chbosky. Starring Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay, and Owen Wilson.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wonder-2017