Julia Roberts had a main role in Wonder, one of the most popular movies of 2017. Creative commons image: David Shinkbone.

By Abby Wolfenden

Wonder

Rating: PG

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Summary: Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy with a facial deformity. Auggie has been homeschooled all of his life due to his fear of facing other kids at school. Despite never attending real school, he is extremely intelligent and has an affinity for Star Wars, astronauts, and science. The movie follows Auggie and his family members as he starts 5th grade at a prep school in New York City, where he faces bullying and struggles to make new friends.

Recommendation: I absolutely loved this film. Not only was the acting amazing, but the story itself was so inspiring. I loved watching Auggie build strong relationships with his parents, his older sister, and his peers at school. The message of the movie was so great for viewers to see, because it emphasized that true beauty is on the inside, rather than the outside. This movie is sure to make you laugh, cry, and smile.

The Princess Bride

Rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Summary: The Princess Bride is a fairytale about a young couple in the mythical kingdom of Florin. It follows the soon-to-be princess Buttercup and a farm boy Westley, who Buttercup believes to have been killed by pirates. Westley sets out on a mission to save Buttercup from marrying a cruel prince and ends up facing various dangers and adventures along the way with his sidekicks Inigo Montoya and Fezzik.

Recommendation: This movie is a classic that my family and I never get tired of watching. It is a story that people of all ages can enjoy, and there is a ton of action that will not fail to entertain.

The Help

Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

Summary: The Help is a story about writer Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan and her journey writing a book that recounts the personal experiences of black maids in Jackson, Mississippi. Along with the help of maids Aibileen Clark and Minnie Jackson, Skeeter ends up interviewing dozens of maids in order to uncover the racism and mistreatment permeating upper-middle class homes all over the south.
Recommendation: I’d never say that a movie surpasses a book, but The Help comes pretty close. The cast consists of Academy-award winning actors and actresses, and the plot is gripping and eye-opening. This is a movie that all Menlo students should see.

My Sister’s Keeper

Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes: 49%

Summary: My Sister’s Keeper is a movie about the Fitzgerald family, particularly their youngest daughter Anna, who was specially conceived to be used as an organ, blood, and bone marrow donor for her older leukemic sister, Kate. Since the age of three, Kate has suffered from a rare form of leukemia that has been sporadically subdued with the help of Anna. When Anna discovers she must donate a kidney to Kate, she seeks the help of a lawyer to sue her parents for emancipation. What follows is chaos and confusion amongst the Fitzgerald family and a trial that will change their lives forever.

Recommendation: This movie was a great reflection of the power of family and sisterhood, and it is sure to make you cry. Although much of the plot was changed from the book, as a standalone film I thought it was very entertaining.

Stand By Me

Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Summary: Based on the novella by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a coming of age story about four boys who go on an adventure to uncover a dead body in the middle of the woods. Along the way, the friends form a powerful bond and encounter various obstacles on their journey. The film takes place in Oregon during Labor Day weekend in 1959.

Recommendation: This movie is a classic tale of friendship and growing up, and it is sure to make you laugh. The individual back stories of each of the boys are touching and the film is designed to make you feel like you are on the adventure with them. I highly recommend this movie if you’re looking for something comical and adventurous.