Review: "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"

Film And DVD Reviews by Phil Boatwright

Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest, CJ Adams, Rosemarie DeWitt,Ron Livingston, M. Emmet Walsh, Odeya Rush, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lois Smith, DavidMorse. Walt Disney Pictures. Drama/Comedy Written & directed by Peter Hedges. 8/15/12

FILM SYNOPSIS: Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) brings enchantment to the screen with his story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. Unable to have a child of their own, they finally give up their dream of having a son by planting a box of written-out dreams of what they hoped he’d be. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, uprooted from the garden where they had planted the box of dreams, Cindy and Jim learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

REVIEW: A gentle, touching parable about the magic of love, The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a refreshing change of pace after a week of action thrillers and a crude comedy (Campaign) so offensive that it truly points out the desensitized nature of today’s general public.

Young CJ Adams is terrific as the title character, never resorting to cutesieness or pretentious behavior. His character serves to remind us of the innocence of youth so sadly lost as we begin to mature.

Though I would hesitate to place this fantasy fairy tale next to the likes of Field of Dreams or The Enchanted Cottage, there are some funny moments as well as a few touching ones. It’s a lightweight fantasy, a pleasant movie outing.

PG (two minor expletives, but I caught no harsh language; the expression “Oh God” is heard a couple of times, but I heard no other misuse of God’s name; the couple drink wine on one occasion; the parents undergo moments of grief when they discover they can’t have children of their own; Timothy is only there for a season before he leaves – but there is a happy ending). Running Time: 95 min. Intended Audience: Older kids on up

Besides providing a monthly column for Baptist Press, he reviews films for www.previewonline.org. He also is a regular contributor to "The World and Everything In it," a weekly radio program from WORLD News Group, which also publishes WORLD Magazine.

For information about Phil Boatwright, go to moviereporter.com.

DEFINITIONS

Profanity – God’s name followed by a curse or the abusive use of Christ’s name

Obscenity – a swear word, indecent language

Expletive – minor curse words such as damn or hell

Crudity – vulgar, often coarse situations or dialogue dealing with bodily functions

Adult Subject Matter – situations or subjects unsuitable for or difficult to comprehend by children