The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life Of Timothy Green is a heartfelt and occasionally cloying fable that asks you to buy into its fantastical premise without any intention of tethering the underlying themes of parenthood and selflessness to reality.

Writer-director Peter Hedges has an impressive track record for intimate ensemble pieces, including What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Pieces Of April and Dan In Real Life.

His latest film might not soar to those giddy heights but it is still life-affirming and moving, wringing copious tears courtesy of a stellar performance from young actor CJ Adams in the title role.

Hedges’s film possesses sweetness and charm, so long as you don’t probe the kinks in the script, such as how a boy can grow from the earth or why an entire close-knit town readily accepts this magical child.

Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) and his wife Cindy (Jennifer Garner) live in the North Carolina town of Stanleyville, proudly known as the pencil capital of the world.

Alas, pencils are out of fashion and the town is teetering on the brink of financial ruin, which could see factory worker Jim out of work in the very near future.

More than anything, Jim and Cindy want a child but are unable to conceive. One night they decide to write down the characteristics of their perfect child then bury the box containing these pieces of paper in their back garden.

A freak thunderstorm leads to the blossoming of a boy called Timothy (CJ Adams), who has plant leaves growing out of his legs.

A local botanist confirms the leaves cannot be removed but Jim and Cindy don’t care about this aesthetic quirk and introduce the boy to their dysfunctional family.

Timothy is a loving, caring innocent who touches the hearts of everyone he meets, even Cindy’s self-obsessed boss, Bernice (Dianne Wiest).

The boy is especially drawn to a girl called Joni (Odeya Rush), who possesses an infectious lust for life. Their tender friendship plays out as Jim and Cindy learn more about Timothy and the reason he has taken root in their humdrum lives.

Characters are well drawn and colourfully embodied by the strong supporting cast, including Edgerton and Garner as parents who think their dreams have been answered.

The bittersweet mood pervades until the final frames and a satisfying resolution that should leave a few lumps in throats.