It is refreshing to find a film that simply asks its audience to “choose kind.”

I became familiar with this phrase when reading the R.J. Palacio’s bestselling novel “Wonder.” The recent movie,“Wonder,”  based on the book by the same name, tells the story of 10-year-old Auggie (Jacob Tremblay), a boy with facial deformities. Homeschooled up until the fourth grade, Auggie is well aware of the challenges that await him when he enrolls in middle school. But Auggie is not defined by his appearance; his intelligence and kind nature are the qualities that he longs for his peers to see.

“Wonder” also includes the narratives of other figures in Auggie’s life. Although all of the narratives are poignant and engaging, a highlight is the coming of age of Auggie’s sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), as well as the journey of Auggie’s friend and classmate, Jack Will (Noah Jupe). However, Auggie’s bright and compassionate mother (Julia Roberts) and humorous but genuine dad (Owen Wilson) should not be overlooked.

The vibrant and well-drawn characters are cast and portrayed perfectly.  They accentuate the engaging and well-paced story. Tremblay’s Auggie is relatable, inspires empathy and handles his situation in a light-hearted but equally touching way. Auggie’s family is realistic and supportive; they are always there for Auggie, despite having their own personal struggles. All of Auggie’s classmates also play their roles to perfection, and the audience comes to understand and have sympathy for all of them — even Auggie’s primary tormentor, Julian. Mandy Patinkin and Daveed Diggs shine in their supporting roles as Auggie’s principal and teacher, respectively, but they don’t upstage the main characters.

Screenwriter Stephen Chbosky, who helped pen the screenplay for the 2017 adaption of “Beauty and the Beast,” takes on the additional role of director for “Wonder,” according to IMDB. He succeeds in telling another poignant story of acceptance despite appearance. The tone of the screenplay and direction tell the story in an emotional yet humorous way, which allows the film to be impactful and engaging for all ages.