Movie Review: The Odd Life of Timothy Green

            I like movies. Even more, I like movies that make me feel. Those are rare. So when I walked into theater 6 to see The Odd Life of Timothy Green, I knew the film’s quirkiness would grab me from the beginning. The previews looked promising (but we all know what that means), and I couldn’t wait to see it despite my trailer-rule-of-thumb misgivings.

            The movie started off with a punch when you realize that the two parents (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton) are unable to have kids, and the emotion Garner displays is completely believable. When they take that one night to imagine what their kid would be like, I felt so sad for them. They couldn’t have one of their own. They’d never experience that. Man.

            Punch in the face number one.

            Then when Timothy appeared? That was so cute. The kid’s acting was praiseworthy, and I say he has a great future ahead of him. But I digress.

            Let’s see, how many times did this movie punch me in the face?

            Great plot and relatable, believable, lovable, hateable characters? Punch number two.

            Sweetness that relates to life and relationships, and how the touch of one kind person can reach so many people in one fell swoop? Punch number three.

            Timothy’s very essence of kindness and showing love to everyone he meets? His lack of judgment and the honesty he portrays that touched not only his parents, but the people his parents came into contact with, including the stiff-necked adoption agents? Punch number four.

            I will confess something that has only ever happened once in the entirety of my movie watching career. Timothy Green made me cry. Honest-to-goodness tears that leaked out onto my face. Silent sobs that shook my shoulders and chest. I hated the ending (no spoiler alert), but at the same time I loved it. I understood it, but it still made me so sad. Sad and touched and happy and . . . all kinds of crap. Good crap.

            The only thing that could have been put into the film was a little explanation of where Timothy had come from. That would have topped off the French silk pie with chocolate shavings. Mmmmmmm….pie.

            With four punches in the face and counting, not to mention the sheer goodness of this film, I give Timothy an unprecedented Six kernels out of five. (Yes, I have the power to bend fractions. This is my blog. I call the shots.) Congratulations, Timothy Green. You made me cry.