THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN

Publicity poster for The Odd Life of Timothy Green (© Peter Hedges/Walt Disney Pictures/Monsterfoot Productions/Scott Sanders Productions - reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

One afternoon during summer 2017, I turned on the TV at home just in time to catch most of the start of a movie that I'd never heard about before, but which proved to be a totally enchanting fantasy story about a small boy who seemingly appears out of nowhere during a thunderstorm, an enigmatic foundling who is taken in by a young and kindly childless couple, the Greens, who have long prayed for a child. They name him Timothy and soon discover that he is exceptionally sweet-natured, always willing to help others, but this is far from being his only special talent.

What makes Timothy so enigmatic, other than his never-explained origin, is the extraordinary fact that green leaves grow directly from his skin, and which can't be removed. However, each time that he does a good deed for someone, one of these leaves falls off his skin of its own accord. When Timothy's last, greatest good deed is done, saving the livelihoods of the entire town's workers, the final leaf falls off and he vanishes, once again during a thunderstorm, never to be seen again. Shortly afterwards, however, Timothy's forlorn unofficial foster-parents are informed that they have finally qualified to adopt a child, and the movie ends with an official arriving at the Greens' home with a little girl.

I absolutely loved this magical, but also at times truly heart-wrenching, movie. Yet like a fool I neglected to take note of its title, having missed the opening credits, and I have wondered ever since what it was. Reading through the weekend's TV programmes in a magazine during mid-June 2018, however, I was delighted to discover that it was being shown again here in the UK on BBC2, on 17 June, at 1.55 pm in the afternoon.

And its title? The Odd Life of Timothy Green, starring CJ Adams as Timothy, plus Jennifer Garner and Joe Edgerton as his unofficial foster parents Cindy and Jim Green. Originally released in 2012 and based upon a story by Ahmet Zappa (writer/musician son of legendary American rocker Frank Zappa), it was directed by Peter Hedges, who also wrote its screenplay, and was produced by Walt Disney Pictures in collaboration with Ahmet Zappa's Monsterfoot Productions plus Scott Sanders Productions.

If you enjoy this genre of movie you will certainly enjoy the hidden treasure that is The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Moreover, since writing the above mini-review I am very happy to say that I now own this delightful movie on DVD, thanks to longstanding friend Sue Gilbert, who very kindly gave it to me as a present earlier this year, 2020 – thank you so much, Sue!

Finally, click here for an official trailer, and I'm sure that, just like its mysterious subject's leaves, The Odd Life of Timothy Green will definitely grow on you!

And to view a complete listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE!