Odd Life of Timothy Green, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +3

Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest, CJ Adams, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, M. Emmet Walsh, Odeya Rush, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lois Smith, David Morse. Drama/Comedy. Written & directed by Peter Hedges.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) brings enchantment to the screen with his story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. Unable to have a child of their own, they finally give up their dream of having a son by planting a box of written-out dreams of what they hoped he’d be. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, uprooted from the garden where they had planted the box of dreams, Cindy and Jim learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

PREVIEW REVIEW: A gentle, touching parable about the magic of love, The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a refreshing change of pace after a week of action thrillers and a crude comedy (Campaign) so offensive that it truly points out the desensitized nature of today’s general public.

Young CJ Adams is terrific as the title character, never resorting to cutesiness or pretentious behavior. His character serves to remind us of the innocence of youth so sadly lost as we begin to mature.

Though I would hesitate to place this fantasy fairy tale next to the likes of Field of Dreams or The Enchanted Cottage, there are some funny moments as well as a few touching ones. It’s a lightweight fantasy, a pleasant movie outing.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures