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Jacob Tremblayis certainly making a splash in the industry, and we don’t just mean withhis role as Flounderin the live-action version ofThe Little Mermaid. This child actor made his film debut inSmurfs 2where he played Blue Winslow, but his big breakthrough came when he starred alongside Brie Larson in the horrifyingly realistic psychological dramaRoom. Since then, Tremblay has pretty much been full speed ahead with his acting career.
He has starred with some of the biggest names in the business, such as Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Vera Farmiga, and Ewan McGregor, and he even voiced the lead roles inLuca,My Father’s Dragon, andOrion in the Dark. It clearly seems like this seventeen-year-old has no trouble understanding what is needed of him on and off the screen, but when it comes to Tremblay’s fans knowing and loving him, there is one particular movie that seems to have flown below some radars.
Thebook-to-film adaptionofWonderhit the screens back in 2017 when Tremblay was just 11 years old, and due to the nature of Tremblay’s character, many may not have recognized the actor at the time. Tremblay played August “Auggie” Pullman, a young boy born with Treacher Collins syndrome, who just wants to be viewed and treated like any other kid. While trying to navigate the harsh halls of middle school, Auggie learns that the world can be filled with horrible people, but there are also incredibly kind souls that balance out the bad. It’s a heartwarming story that everyone needs to see, and thanks to Netflix, you can now stream it easily.
Find out why Jacob Tremblay’s most touching and wholesome movie has been considered underrated.
What Is Wonder About?
Wonder Is Packed Full of Realism
While manycoming-of-age filmslike to give the main character a romantic interest and have them experience new (and usually more adult) things with their new group of friends,Wondertakes the entire genre down a notch to a more wholesome and relatable level. The story follows Auggie, a 10-year-old boy with a rare medical facial abnormality, as he goes to public school for the first time ever.
Up until now, his mother (Julia Roberts) has homeschooled him, but she and his father (Owen Wilson), who are both incredibly supportive of their son, feel it is best that he gets to know the world a bit better outside his home. Auggie is understandably apprehensive and opposed to the decision at first, but when he sees the opportunities he will have within the science department, he agrees to go.
When school officially begins, Auggie encounters bullies and hateful individuals, but he also gets to see how kind people can be once given the chance. By the end of the school years, Auggie learns that nothing is as easy as it may seem on paper, and he realizes that confidence and bravery come in all shapes and sizes, even though his fighting stance is probably the cutest thing you will ever see in your whole life.
How Wonder Could Possibly Be Considered “Underrated”
Don’t Judge a Movie By Its Summary
With such a heartfelt message paired with some great actors and stellar reviews, it may come as a shock to some thatWonderhas flown under a few radars for a while. What is the problem exactly? Well, too many people are quick to judge a movie by its cover, or in this case, its trailer or summary.
By just reading or watching a quick snippet of the film, movie lovers feel as if there is not necessarily much of a shocking story to unravel. A young boy with a medical condition goes to public school, gets bullied, overcomes his bullies, and essentially moves on with his life. In short, that sounds like a fairly normal situation as well as a slightly boring film to watch. However,Wonderis so much more than that.
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The movie has several layers to unravel, and while the primary story does focus on Auggie, the problems the supporting characters go through are all too relatable. Everyone, regardless of age, race, or gender, can identify with at least one character or situation within the film and find a way to address it in their own lives. This problem-solving aspect is what movies are all about. Of course, there is the entertainment aspect, but a truly great movie, such asWonder, allows audiences to take bits and pieces of characters and scenarios so that they can better understand their own reality.
The Importance of the Film in This Day and Age
It Really Takes a Village
There are so many lessons to be learned by watching this film, and in a world where tolerance and acceptance of others' differences seem to be on the decline, people may want to circle back and watch this film to get back to the basics of remembering what good yet imperfect people can be like. For instance,Auggie’s parents are incredible people. There is no doubt about that as they, especially his mother, have put so much on hold to be sure that Auggie receives all the help he needs. However, when it comes to their daughter, Via (Izabela Vidovic), they realize that they have been a bit on the neglectful side. Hard conversations are had about this, and in the end, they become a stronger family.
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Then there are the people outside the Pullman family who mean well and want to do the right thing, but they may not have all the answers right away. Auggie’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Browne (Daveed Diggs), and his principal, Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin), are perfect examples of this. They want the best for Auggie, and they want to push him to see the incredible young man that he can be outside his own comfort zone; however, they have to allow Auggie to stand up for himself at times. This idea of not completely stepping back, but allowing a child enough room to grow on their own is difficult, but in the end, it is worth it.Stream Wonder on Netflix.
