THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN DVD (2012)

SYNOPSIS: Disney brings enchantment home with The Odd Life Of Timothy Green, an inspiring, magical story for the whole family starring Jennifer Garner. Cindy (Garner) and Jim Green are a happily married couple who can't wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim - and their small town of Stanleyville - learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts. From Academy Awardr-nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (About A Boy, Best Adapted Screenplay, 2002; Dan In Real Life; What's Eating Gilbert Grape?), it's a heartwarming celebration of family as only Disney can deliver.

MOVIE REVIEW:

At first glance, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” looks destined to be a Disney title. It has sort of a fantasy element to it and also features a nice kid in the leading role. But the script by Ahmet Zappa and written for the screen by writer-director Peter Hedges (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, “Dan In Real Life”) surprisingly offers a slightly different outlook though it does get a little too sentimental in the end.

Knowing that they will never ever be able to conceive and have kids on their own, Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim (Joel Edgerton) decides to write down the traits of their dream child and bury them in their garden before they move on with their lives. On that faithful night during a thunderstorm, a mysterious boy named Timothy with leaves on his shins emerges out of their backyard and instantly becomes the couple’s adopted child.

If you can get past the fact that the people in the small town which Cindy and Jim lives has no qualms or questions with Timothy’s sudden arrival in the Green family then you will buy into the charm that the boy is almost as real as the couple has expected. Timothy on the whole is genuinely adoring, he forgives the boys who bully him in school, he successfully cheer up a dying uncle and he is busy finding love with another school mate, Joni. Most importantly, he teaches his overbearing adoptive parents on how to behave in life. Without relying on fancy effects and filled with well-intended messages, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is a modern day fable that is likely to appeal more to adults than kids so to speak.

There’s a subplot involving a pencil manufacturing factory that is on the brink of closing, one which conveniently has both the Green couple working in and Jim’s constant issues with his distanced, demanding father (played by David Morse) both which are poorly handled. Luckily, Garner and Edgerton and together with young actor CJ Adams (Timothy Green) are competent enough to put in commendable performances to distract the otherwise awkward moments.   

In the end, Peter Hedges has turned in a somewhat magical tale; you might even call it a half-baked drama about adoption and family. The ending which I shall not spoil here is by far and large a predictable schmaltzy affair knowing Timothy’s falling leaves has an impact or two. Yet what’s the harm in getting some Disney magic once in a while.  

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The extras consist of 5 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by director Peter Hedges and a music video, “The Gift” by Glen Hansard.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visually, the movie looks fantastic with beautiful images and pleasant skintones. In terms of audio, the feature is more front-heavy and dialogue is clear without any distraction.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee