Real Mom, Reel Reviews

The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Disney’s got itself a sweet little family film here.  It’s just not exactly one for the kids.  Sure you’ll see plenty of kids in the movie, a dash of amusing, child-friendly scenes (an afternoon soccer game fiasco), and a healthy dose of fantasy sure to entertain any kids you bring to the theater, but the overarching and underlying story is solidly about the grown-ups.

Marquee Mama’s Rating: Mom happy, Dad and kids only mildly happy

The Odd Life of Timothy Green opens with a lengthy, sad beginning when Mr. and Mrs. Green (played by Joel Edgerton and Jenifer Garner) receive news that they’re unable to conceive a child.  I brought two little girls to this screening and within a few minutes I feared they were in for a less-than-fun time.  But the story unfolded, and a boy grew from the Greens’ garden.  My children were appeased and I was relieved.

Timothy (CJ Adams) is utterly charming and whoever discovered this young actor – bravo to you!  Timothy is sincere, loving, sweet and disarmingly mature (again, this one’s for the grown-ups).  The leaves growing from his ankles only endear him more, though his new parents aim to protect him from ridicule by concealing them with socks (I can already see the Timothy Green Halloween costume with the striped knee-highs).

Hopefully you will subscribe to the fantasy before entering the theater because a realist’s perspective would be inappropriate here.  Obvious questions go unanswered, so don’t bother yourself with any.  Just drink the juice and enjoy the journey through these breathtaking Georgia scenes of soft sun and vibrant fall leaves.  Relish Timothy’s challenge to fit in and surround himself with the right people for him.  Cheer for his parents’ small victories and empathize with them through their well-intended blunders.   Parents will appreciate their humanness, and will undoubtedly recognize characters from their own lives throughout this movie.

Cindy (Jennifer Garner, left), Timothy (CJ Adams, center) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton, right) welcome their family to a picnic so that they can introduce Timothy to the clan.

Many lessons are taught and learned throughout this tale and they’re all supported by a cast of very memorable characters.  It was criminal to introduce me to “Uncle Bub” (M. Emmet Walsh) and then take him away so quickly!  Dianne Wiest plays totally and refreshingly against type as the nasty old museum curator/matriarch of Stanelyville’s blue-bloods.  And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more realistic coach than Coach Cal (played by hip-hop artist Common)!

Concern for my girls was again piqued at the end during a very sad scene, but they fared well.  While resolute in my feeling that this movie is made for grown-ups, the kids and I did have some lively conversation about the movie’s main message:  anything is possible.

Timothy Green (CJ Adams, left) and Joni Jerome (Odeya Rush, right) form a special bond when each of them reveals their deepest secrets.

Things I Loved:

• How often does one get a behind-the-scenes look at how pencils are made?  Not sure what I was expecting, but I guess I never imagined a big bucket of yellow paint or vats of little red rubber erasers.

• This may have been the first time I’ve heard rain on a tin roof.  It was nice!  You don’t get a lot of either in California.

• I love when casting directors choose a child who actually looks like the parents.  Nothing irritates Marquee Mama more than 2 brunette parents with a towheaded kid!

• Wow!  Growing your own custom kid in the garden?  Sign me up!

• Surprises in movies are so great.  There’s a good one here when the Greens consider clipping Timothy’s leaves.

• The leaf garden the children built was so dreamy – and poignant.

Cindy (Jennifer Garner, left), Timothy (CJ Adams, center) and Jim (Joel Edgerton, right) Green give an impromptu performance at a family gathering.

Things I Didn’t Love:

• Hard to tell what age group this movie is targeting.

• The ongoing narrative was probably less necessary than the film made it.

• Spare me the spinning wind vane to depict transition.  The giant thunderstorm said plenty.

• I’m only putting this in the “Things I Didn’t Love” category because at first I didn’t love her.  But Timothy’s girlfriend, who appeared too old and edgy for him, became someone I truly appreciated and admired.

• The sketching scene was strangely Titanic-esque and I actually feared nudity.  Fear unwarranted, thank you very much!

The Odd Life of Timothy Green opens on August 15th Nationwide