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The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Play trailer Poster for The Odd Life of Timothy Green PG 2012 1h 44m Kids & Family Comedy Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
36% Tomatometer 128 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) live in the town of Stanleyville, home of the Stanleyville Pencil Factory. Though happily married, Cindy and Jim long for a child; unfortunately, they are unable to conceive. They bury a box in their backyard, containing all their wishes for what they hope a child of theirs might be. When a boy named Timothy (CJ Adams) magically appears at their door, the Greens learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts.
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The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

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Critics Consensus

It means well, but The Odd Life of Timothy Green is ultimately too cloyingly sentimental -- and thinly scripted -- to satisfy all but the least demanding viewers.

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Critics Reviews

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David Jenkins Little White Lies 04/04/2013
2/5
A gooey mess, but not an entirely dislikable one. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 04/04/2013
1/5
The Odd Life Of Timothy Green made me shiver, like having a lizard crawl over your face when you're asleep. Go to Full Review
Robbie Collin Daily Telegraph (UK) 04/04/2013
2/5
Has ever a film battled more fruitlessly against the creepiness of its own premise than The Odd Life of Timothy Green? Go to Full Review
Mark Jackson Epoch Times 03/26/2022
3.5/5
A wonderful tale about the power of intention, being careful what you wish for, self-acceptance, love, loss, and new beginnings. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 12/02/2020
3/10
Struggles to find creativity, worthy comedy, and resonance. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/18/2020
3.0/4.0
A good majority of children will find much to enjoy here and parents will no doubt appreciate the film's positive message, inspiring characters, and genuinely good heart. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Nov 30 Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green offers an intriguing premise built around a child who seems born from nature itself, blending whimsy with emotional undercurrents in a way that only the studio’s family-centric storytelling tends to pursue. The film follows a couple who mysteriously find a young boy in their lives and must navigate the strange, magical circumstances surrounding him. While the concept is charming and imaginative, it comes wrapped in the familiar Disney tone that mixes heartfelt sincerity with lighter, quirky humor. The screenplay works best when it leans into the sincerity of its premise rather than the comedic flourishes that Disney often overuses. At times, the humor dips into slapstick territory, creating a tonal imbalance that distracts from the more poignant aspects of the narrative. Still, the story maintains enough emotional grounding to keep audiences invested, presenting a cohesive arc centered around love, loss, and the fear of inevitable change. Directionally, the film lands in a comfortable middle ground. The director succeeds in bringing life and warmth to Timothy’s world, though certain character choices feel underdeveloped or underemphasized. Some supporting roles deserved more weight within the story, especially considering their narrative importance. Instead, a few characters who should feel central appear surprisingly sidelined, diminishing their potential impact. The casting works well enough for a family film of this nature. Each performer brings a gentle sincerity to the screen, even if the roles don’t always feel perfectly matched to the actors playing them. There are moments where you can’t help but wonder how the film might have benefitted from slightly different casting choices, especially in emotionally charged scenes that call for deeper nuance. Despite its flaws, The Odd Life of Timothy Green has a quiet charm. The fantastical setup combined with the grounded emotional beats creates a story that is easy to watch and enjoy in the moment, even if it doesn’t linger long in the memory. The themes surrounding parenting, acceptance, and the fleeting nature of time are handled with enough tenderness to resonate with family audiences. Ultimately, this is a creative and sweet film, even if it isn’t one that demands repeated viewings. It’s enjoyable, heartfelt, and imaginative, offering a pleasant experience that fits comfortably within Disney’s catalog—even if it stops short of being one of the studio’s more unforgettable achievements. See more Cara R Oct 11 I don’t care what anyone says, this movie is absolutely amazing and beautiful. It’s about a husband and wife who long to be parents and ultimately get their dream child while still balancing what it truly means to be parents. We see a quirky kid being judged by half the town because he’s not perfect and really only has one friend knowing that it won’t last. Movie always makes me cry I absolutely love it. And the scenery of the film is what also makes this film so amazing See more Lanfranco C @Lanfrancobz Jun 21 A tale maybe cute, but too irrational. See more Zeno _ May 13 The Movie was fine, but I’d say I couldn’t have the ability to cry at the end when it was meant to be emotionally impactful as I hadn’t been too connected with the characters. None of them had super unique personalities or traits other than Timothy, but that’s kinda the point of the movie so I void it. See more Eye C Mar 11 It’s nice, a fantasy nonetheless, but emotionally. The kid that portraits Timothy is one of the cutest boy in the world. See more Dale R 07/07/2024 Based on a story by Ahmet Zappa, a young couple mourns after being told they cannot conceive and copes by creating a fictional perfect child who they get to meet later that night. The story for this film is straightforward with a fantasy element to it and has a lot of heart. Jennifer Garner is really good at playing a mother figure and CJ Adams does a great job playing the titular character. I understand this movie might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it and maybe you will too. See more Read all reviews
The Odd Life of Timothy Green

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Movie Info

Synopsis Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) live in the town of Stanleyville, home of the Stanleyville Pencil Factory. Though happily married, Cindy and Jim long for a child; unfortunately, they are unable to conceive. They bury a box in their backyard, containing all their wishes for what they hope a child of theirs might be. When a boy named Timothy (CJ Adams) magically appears at their door, the Greens learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts.
Director
Peter Hedges
Producer
Ahmet Zappa, Scott Sanders, James Whitaker
Screenwriter
Peter Hedges
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Walt Disney Studios
Rating
PG (Mild Thematic Elements|Brief Language)
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 15, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$51.9M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
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