‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ is saddled with a contrived and predictable story, yet wholly entertaining

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Directed by Peter Hedges

Written by Peter Hedges

USA, 2012

For better or worse, The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a cinematic definition of the word “cute.” Its premise—a childless couple finds a mud-covered boy in their garden the night after burying a box describing their dream child—is so whimsical you might gag on it. Peter Hedges, the film’s writer and director, doesn’t do himself many favors regarding the somewhat underdeveloped script. He does have one big piece of help: the impressive ensemble cast, led by Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton, who elevate every scene to make this a charming late-summer diversion.

Garner and Edgerton play Cindy and Jim Reed, a husband and wife living in the small town of Stanleyville, the pencil capital of the world. Cindy works as a tour guide at the local pencil museum, and Jim works in the pencil factory. What they really want in life is to be parents, but after years of trying, their doctor tells them all natural options are gone. One night, a slightly tipsy Cindy and Jim write wishes for what their ideal child would be like. After burying it in the yard, an inexplicable and extremely localized rainstorm delivers them a 10-year old boy named Timothy who has leaves on his legs and dubs Cindy and Jim his mother and father. Their lives, and everyone else’s, change quickly thanks to Timothy’s unique influence

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