Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 16 November 2017
Julia Roberts says ‘Wonder’

shows radical power of kindness

By JILL LAWLESS his loving but sometimes something of their fond-
Associated Press bemused father (Wilson) but-exasperated onscreen
LONDON (AP) — “Wonder” and a teenage sister (Iza- relationship.
could have been designed bela Vidovic) who feels Roberts says she and Wilson
as an antidote to the head- sidelined by her parents’ quickly developed a rap-
lines. It’s a thoroughly posi- absorption in Auggie’s port with their screen chil-
tive movie about the im- needs. dren. She’s full of praise for
portance of kindness. Overcoming apprehen- Tremblay, who has to em-
In this photo taken on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, actors Owen Wilson, Based on R.J. Palacio’s sion, Auggie’s parents body Auggie’s vulnerabil-
left and Julia Roberts pose for a portrait photograph while best-selling children’s nov- decide that fifth grade is ity, frustration and strength.
promoting the film “Wonder” in London. el, the movie follows Aug- the time for him to start “We met Jacob once as
Associated Press gie Pullman, a boy with a at school. Amid the class- Jacob and then he was
craniofacial deformity, as rooms and lockers of a ritzy, just Auggie,” Roberts said.
he takes his first anxious private middle school he “I felt like when he came
steps into an intimidating faces an obstacle course on the set as Auggie, it was
world. of ignorance, bullying, loy- like ‘Hey, there’s our boy.
Like Auggie walking alty and friendship that will We’ve been waiting for
through the gates of his strike a chord with many you, get over here.’”
new school, viewers may children — and adults who “Wonder,” which opens in
feel apprehension about remember that stomach- the U.S. on Friday and in
what lies ahead. But in the gnawing first-day-of-school the U.K. on Dec. 1, is the
hands of director Stephen feeling. kind of holiday-season fam-
Chbosky, this story about Roberts said she and her ily release you might have
embracing difference three children, aged 10 to thought they didn’t make
wants to comfort rather 12, had all read and loved anymore. Roberts laughs
than disturb. Palacio’s 2012 novel, which that it’s unusual in having
Julia Roberts, who plays sold more than 5 million “an entire cast of humans,”
Auggie’s mother Isabel, copies and spawned a se- rather than aliens or super-
said some viewers have ries of spin-off volumes. She heroes.
even called this slice of particularly liked the way Some viewers may find its
healthy family fare revolu- Palacio switches between ingredients a tad bland.
tionary. Auggie’s viewpoint and Others may welcome its
“I guess we have gotten those of other characters, positive message at a time
to such a grim state of the a structure the film also when the ugly side of Hol-
world that some sweet little adopts. lywood is being revealed in
offering like this is kind of a “I thought was a gentle way a torrent of revelations and
handful of revolutionaries,” of teaching that there’s so allegations of sexual ha-
Roberts told The Associated many different ways to look rassment, and worse.
Press during an interview at something,” she said. Roberts said she subscribes
alongside her onscreen The other message of to the belief that “it gets
husband, Owen Wilson. “Wonder” is that kindness worse before it gets better”
“I think everybody wants is a choice, one that takes but finds herself wondering:
to feel good,” she said. practice. “How much worse does it
“And we’ve really gotten Wilson says it reminds him have to be before we have
into this mire and this habit of a quote, attributed to a spring effect?”
and this sport of negativity. Abraham Lincoln, that’s “I think it has to be good,
Maybe that’s why the book emblazoned on a Los An- in the end,” she said of the
struck such a chord in me. geles building: “Most folks tide of revelations. “It’s too
I feel that I am such an in- are about as happy as they ugly not to have a counter-
nately optimistic, happy make their minds up to be.” point moment.”q
person. And then the news, “Of course, yeah, it’s a de-
the world, is just like dulling cision — and same with be-
spray.” ing kind,” he said. “Hope-
“Wonder” aims to be a fully it starts to become
spritz of brightener. more habit, but you can
Auggie — played by pre- make that decision.”
ternaturally poised 11-year- He admits, though, that it
old Jacob Tremblay, from doesn’t work all the time.
“Room” — is a bright “I can sometimes see my-
10-year-old who loves sci- self from above: ‘I’m act-
ence and “Star Wars,” has ing like a jerk,’” Wilson said.
undergone 27 surgeries “I can see myself doing it,
for his complex condition but sometimes it feels too
and has grown used to the good to stop. It’s like eat-
stares of strangers. ing french fries. I’m just go-
Home-schooled by his ing with it. I’ll pay for it later.
mother, an artist who has I’ll say I’m sorry tomorrow.”
put her career on hold to Roberts laughs — off-
care for him, he lives with screen, the pair retain