Ever Green
Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton) have always imagined themselves with children but despite trying everything they are told by their doctor that they can't have children. That is when they write down everything they wish their child to be and bury them in a box in their garden Except that night they get a shock when they are woken to not only find a hole in their garden but a boy covered in mud in their bed who says his name is Timothy (CJ Adams) and calls them mum and dad. But there are many things which are different about Timothy including the leaves growing on his legs but Timothy seems to have a major effect on everyone he meets especially Cindy and Jim.
It's not until about half way in to "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" that something hits you, something which makes your spirits flag a little. But before you get to that point "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" does a wonderful job of grabbing your attention starting with a how's it made style look at pencil manufacturing during the opening credits. I should mention that Jim works in a pencil manufacturing warehouse and they live in a town dominated by the pencil. But then there is the magical arrival of Timothy with the leaves on his shin and his politeness. And just when this happens something happens to one of the leaves and the mystery evolves.
But when this happens is when suddenly you say to yourself come on. What I mean is that Timothy has this magical ability to work miracles in people's lives and that is great. The trouble is that these miracles just happen and whilst there is an undeniable charm to this it does kind of weaken the movie. Now in fairness the movie isn't so much about the mechanics of these miracles but the way he changes people's lives and there has always been something pleasant about a movie where a child's optimistic nature has an effect on those around him whether there is magic and mystery going on or not.
A big reason why this works is that a likeable cast has been chosen with Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton have an attractive nature about them giving their characters a slight edge but are nice. But it is CJ Adams who gives the movie its charm because he gibes Timothy the innocence which is called for.
What this all boils down to is that "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" is a charming movie and it has an infectious spirit which is what is called for. But for me the easy going way that things happens in the movie end up letting it down ever so slightly.
