WONDER Review

Sometimes we forget there is more to the movies than entertainment. Sometimes, it seems, we forget that there can be more to a story than information, simple insight, or distraction, but rather that a story can genuinely move you. I mean, truly move you to the point it inspires a change in mentality, a refreshed outlook, or even just a slight alteration in compassion. As sappy and excessively sweet as it may sound that is what Wonder does. It is a movie that has all the trappings of a melodramatic dramedy that plays on the sentimentalities of the audience in false ways and if you're a seasoned movie-goer of any kind it's easy to see why this would be pinpointed as such. The trailers and other marketing material have made Wonder look like something that ranks somewhere between a Hallmark made-for-TV movie and an after school special that serves to show children the repercussions of bullying, but walking out of the theater it is beyond evident that this movie is so much more than these dismissive descriptions would have you believe. Wonder never succumbs to the sappiness of it all, but more importantly is when it does reach for its peak emotional moments or dare to try to move the audience-it owns it completely. Wonder is a movie aware of what it is meant to do without being self-aware in the slightest. The word is humble. Wonder is a movie that defines being respectable without having to feel like it needs to announce its importance; it just is. Manipulative by nature, but unassuming and wholly modest in its execution writer/director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) finds the perfect balance in understanding the specifics of what his movie is intended to accomplish while making the audience wholly aware of it without flat-out exploiting their emotions. As a dad though, this thing hit me right where it was supposed to and while I understand that what is presented on screen is to a large degree a completely manufactured world where the schools are exaggerated, family time is strictly mandated, and there seems no financial concerns whatsoever these are also all things that aren't critical to the main idea and morality that the film is trying to convey and much can be forgiven when your movie promotes a simple idea like kindness this well and moves you this effectively.

First Trailer for WONDER Starring Julia Roberts & Owen Wilson

Just the other day I received a text from my wife asking if I'd heard anything about an upcoming movie called Wonder. Of course, what I immediately thought of was next week's Wonder Woman, but she knew about that and certainly wasn't questioning whether or not I'd heard of the next big comic book movie. So, what was this Wonder she spoke of and why did it all of a sudden seem to be the cause for much excitement when anticipating movies wasn't typically something she made a hobby out of? Turns out my wife, who is a high school librarian and read A LOT was in the midst of the novel of the same name that this adaptation is based on. The book, a New York Times bestseller, by author RJ Palacio, is by all accounts a solid piece of work that is genuinely moving and heartfelt and the first trailer for the film would have me believe nothing else. With Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man) writing the screenplay and novelist/writer/director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) taking on the material the film version of this story about a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time is certainly in strong hands. The trailer is appropriately schmaltzy, but never comes off as manipulative or overly sappy and hopefully the film in its entirety can very much do the same-balancing the inspiring and the sincerity with one another to the point of true effectiveness. It also doesn't hurt that Lionsgate and Chbosky have been able to attract a dynamite cast that not only includes Jacob Tremblay hot off the success of his first major role in Room, but also the inspiring choice of Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson (who have never worked together before) play the central character's parents. Wonder also stars Mandy Patinkin, Daveed Diggs, Sonia Braga, Izabela Vidovic, Ali Liebert, Bryce Gheisar, Millie Davis, and opens on November 17, 2017.

A DOG'S PURPOSE Review

In the opening moments of the latest sun-drenched melodrama from director Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, Hachi: A Dog's Tale) a dog is born and just quickly a dog is euthanized. It's a strange way to open a PG-rated family film about man's best friend, but was apparently the best way to set the stage for a film whose premise is that of dog reincarnation as narrated by Olaf from Frozen. Sound strange? It is, a little bit, but not nearly as bad as you might think though not nearly as effective as it should be either. This is taking into considering the fact the writers/producers and Hallström don't shy away from exploiting what is arguably the easiest way to elicit tears from your audience-a dog dying. They do this at least four times. And yet, through each of these segments, each of these lives that we see different breeds and genders of dogs lead (all voiced by Josh Gad) there is never that moment that just breaks you in the way you expect a movie like this to do. It seems there was no hesitation in doing what it takes to get the audience to that point, but the execution never matches the intention thus making A Dog's Purpose more of a sleeper than the quickly euthanized pup we met in the first scene.

Of course, Universal knows what it's doing and who the audience is for this type of movie and up until a few weeks ago were no doubt counting on cashing in on the countless dog lovers that flood this great land of ours. It's possible, but is now rather difficult to watch the film without the experience being at least somewhat tainted by the set footage that was released in which a trainer is forced to place a dog in water the canine clearly doesn't care to get in for the sake of a shot. Does the footage strike concern for how movies such as A Dog's Purpose are made? Potentially, sure. Is a bigger deal being made out of what footage we've seen than necessary? Absolutely. Sure, the dog clearly doesn't care to go in the water, but the trainer seemed especially sensitive to this hesitation and we only know if we don't like something by trying it first and that could just as easily be the other side of the coin in this case. I stayed through the credits to see that the film received its seal of approval from the American Humane Society and indeed it did. That's enough for me to trust that what video has been released was likely largely taken out of context if not a massive PR stunt to get more people talking about the movie. Needless to say, dog lovers will likely still flock to A Dog's Purpose and have no reason not to-it's made especially for them anyway.