“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is a quirky*, tender and mature ode to parenting that is equally entertaining for adults and children.

    When Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton) receive the unfortunate news that they cannot have children, they tackle their grief by creating a list of the best qualities for their never-to-be child, put it in a box and bury it in their garden. A miracle happens in the middle of the night and the Greens find young muddy Timothy sleeping in an adjacent room. Besides sprouting* from their garden and claiming to be their son, Timothy has one strikingly odd attribute — he has leaves growing on his legs.

    As the Greens get to know Timothy they come to realize he personifies every trait they wrote on the buried list. Timothy uses these traits to affect each character’s life in some positive way. Since Timothy is part boy, part plant he is seasonal, making time very much of the essence. We’ve encountered this story of a unique individual who creates positively affects his community countless times before but the film feels welcome and fresh.

    “Green” avoids syrupy* moments that similar family dramas fall victim to. Director Peter Hedges is respectful of his audience by subtly building the sentiment from the film’s sensitive opening scenes with the Green’s learning they are unable to have children through the film’s touching climax. Despite a scene or two of unadulterated cheesiness, the story is sweet and genuine.

    The strong script, based on a story by Ahmet Zappa, broadens its reach from Cindy and Jim parenting Timothy to them as struggling children dealing with their own parents. Jim is in a continual battle with his own absentee* father (David Morse) and vows to be a better dad to Timothy than his own coarse* father was to him.

    Garner and Edgerton are delightful as a couple unsure of what to do or how to act with their unexpected new gift. Their moments of grief to utter* bewilderment* to joy are realistic and convincing.

    (SD-Agencies)