This week Tag Team Movie Reviewers Nicholas Angelo and Amy Baker give you the scoop on the first movie in the LIFE UMC “At the Movies” series. You can catch “Wonder,” rated PG, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and some great younger actors at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the church. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be popcorn!

AMY: Hey, Nicholas, what do you like about movies?

NICHOLAS: I like the action parts and all the craziness.

AMY: I like the popcorn! And sometimes I venture into the other food group, nachos.

NICHOLAS: I thought it was really cool when I heard we could all watch movies together at church. Lots of people came last year. Bill Barnes brought his whole neighborhood.

AMY: I’m excited about it, too. Again, mostly about the popcorn. What kind of movies do you normally enjoy?

NICHOLAS: “Spiderman: Far from Home” is my favorite movie. My family is watching “Spiderman: Homecoming” tonight. We’re getting into the whole Marvel Avengers thing. We watch movies as a family most of the time. I like action movies, no romance and all that stuff. There’s a little bit of that in “Spiderman,” but not enough to make it boring.

AMY: I like a good romance movie, but I like action movies, too. I also really like scary movies, but I can only watch them in the middle of the day or I won’t sleep.

NICHOLAS: “Jurassic Park” was scary enough for me.

AMY: We don’t have to worry about being scared by the movies at LIFE. The first movie we’re watching this summer is “Wonder,” the inspiring story of August “Auggie” Pullman, a boy with facial differences who has been homeschooled all his life, and his experience entering fifth grade at a prep school. I’ve only seen half of the movie, so you need to tell me how it ends and if you recommend it.

NICHOLAS: No spoilers, Amy! I can’t tell our readers how it ends, but I do recommend it; it’s a good movie. It really tells you how a kid like Auggie gets through the world and makes friends.

AMY: From what I saw, the whole premise of this movie is to “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” What I like about “Wonder” is that you see the story from the perspectives of different characters. When your friend hurts your feelings, you don’t always know why and what internal struggle your friend is facing. “Wonder” lets you hear a character’s thoughts and understand. It’s a touching story about courage, forgiveness, friendship and family. 

NICHOLAS: For younger kids, we recommend “Shrek,” which will also be shown at the church. It’s been a while since I watched “Shrek,” but I don’t really remember a lesson to that movie. I know it’s a fairy tale about a big green ogre and a princess.

AMY: Hmm. I think there is a lesson in “Shrek” that’s very similar to the one in “Wonder.” Both movies are about how someone looks and how that causes people to be scared of him and the character to be lonely. 

NICHOLAS: Oh yeah, and in both movies the main character realizes how much he needs friends. (Small word of advice, there is some adult humor in “Shrek,” rated PG, but a lot of it will be over the heads of smaller kids. And let’s face it, you’ve probably seen it already anyway.)

AMY: So, Nicholas, I think our movie conversation went really well. Thanks so much for hanging out with me.

NICHOLAS: You’re welcome. I think it went well, too.

AMY: So, we’ll make this the first of a whole series of Tag Team Movie Reviews for this summer?

NICHOLAS: Cool! See you next week!

AMY: See you then. Next week we’ll be talking about “The Greatest Showman,” which will be shown at the church at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.