Shuvrajit Das Biswas
All of us are really looking for acceptance and a place to belong to. That is the theme behind the film ‘Wonder’, directed by Stephen Chbosky, of ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower‘ fame.
In the movie, a boy with severe deformities to his face, due to a genetic disorder, is sent to a private school, and we are given a glimpse into how compassionate and how vindictive kids can be. Overall, the film deals with interpersonal relationships brilliantly and has several moments of emotional tenderness. Upon its release, ‘Wonder’ was praised for its performances, which is unsurprising, considering the highly talented cast members, and for its story. The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus states: ”Wonder’ doesn’t shy away from its bestselling source material’s sentiment, but this well-acted and overall winsome drama earns its tugs at the heartstrings.”
With all this hype surrounding the movie, you know you want to watch it, if you haven’t seen it already, and even if you have, you might want to re-watch it. But before we tell you where to watch ‘Wonder’, let us walk you through the story.
What is Wonder About?
‘Wonder’ tells the story about a ten-year-old boy, August “Auggie” Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), who lives with his father Nate (Owen Wilson), mother Isabel (Julia Roberts) and older sister Olivia “Via” Pullman (Izabela Vidovic). He lives comfortably in a brownstone in New York, but all is not okay in Auggie’s world, as he suffers from a genetic disease which causes a deformed face, and as a result, he had to undergo 27 different surgeries. Although home-schooled, when Auggie approaches fifth grade, his parents decide to enroll him in a private school, Beecher Prep. Before the school year begins, Auggie is given a tour of the school with three other students. However, once the school year starts, he is ostracized by everyone, except Jack, with whom he forms a close friendship. This soon changes on the fateful Halloween day. He was supposed to go as Boba Fett, but his costume got ruined, forcing him to go as Ghostface.
Initially, Auggie is more confident since the costume hides how he really looks, but when he enters his classroom, he overhears Jack, who does not recognize him. Jack seems to have teamed up with Julian, a bully, and his friends, in talking about Auggie behind his back, and he says that if he looked like that he would kill himself. On hearing this, Auggie becomes sick and his mother is forced to abandon the mother-daughter day to go pick him up from school. Although Via is hurt by this, she takes Auggie trick-or-treating, because she herself has been recently rejected by her best friend Miranda.
Auggie becomes friends with a girl called Summer and tells her about Jack. When Jack confronts Summer about why Auggie has been so distant, she tells him ‘Ghostface’ as a clue. Upon realizing his mistakes, Jack tries to reconcile with Auggie, and this results in him picking a fight with Julian and getting himself suspended for two days. However, Jack and Auggie become friends again. Meanwhile, Via does well in her life, as she begins a romantic relationship and delivers a moving performance in a play, thanks to Miranda, with whom she reconciles.
All is not well, however, as Auggie continues to be bullied by Julian and his friends. Finally, this news goes to the principal, who confronts Julian and his parents. It appears as though Julian’s mother is even more toxic than her son, and she was the one who photoshopped Auggie out of the class picture, believing that the children should not be exposed to Auggie. The principal has no option but to suspend Julian, causing him to miss the class retreat, despite threats that this would result in Julian’s parents pulling their funding from the school. Julian is, however, distraught at this turn of events and apologizes.
The trouble is not over for Auggie yet, as some seventh graders from another school begin to bully him on the nature retreat. Jack is outmatched, but Julian’s friends step in to defend Auggie, and he becomes more accepted by his classmates. The film ends with him winning an award for being outstanding, as his mother cheers him on, calling him a true wonder.
Now, let us tell you where you can watch this wholesome movie.
Is Wonder on Netflix?
Netflix has an amazing collection of movies and television shows. A lot of this content has a feel-good factor to it and is very wholesome. Though ‘Wonder’ is not on Netflix, you can chill out with ‘Benji‘ that is adventurous, while remaining inspiring.
Is Wonder on Hulu?
Hulu has an ever-growing collection of films and television shows, and they smartly keep adding to it, in order to cater to various tastes. If you have a Hulu subscription, you are in luck, as ‘Wonder’ is available on the platform. Check it out here.
Is Wonder on Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime has a library that can only be bested by Netflix. But in this case, it seems as though the platform has pulled one over its competitors. Prime subscribers can tune in and watch ‘Wonder’. Check it out here.
Where Can I Stream Wonder Online?
No Amazon Prime or Hulu subscription? No worries. You can still watch ‘Wonder’. Just head over to Epix or Pure Flix and you can stream the movie. However, you need to have a subscription to these platforms.
Where Can I Watch Wonder Online For Free?
Well, if you are a freeloader planning to watch ‘Wonder’, then you are in luck. Head over to Amazon Prime or Hulu, and use their free trial period to watch the movie. Since it is a week-long trial period, you should finish the movie before time.
However, we urge all our readers to pay for any art they consume.
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