DVD Review: The Odd Life of Timothy Green

When young Timothy suddenly comes into the lives of Cindy and Jim Green, they learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts. The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Disney’s touching movie about what makes a family, comes out on Blu-ray & DVD on December 4th.

What Makes A Family?

When I saw the previews for The Odd Life of Timothy Green, I though it looked like a cute movie. What I didn’t realize is that the movie touches on some difficult real life issues, focusing on the struggles of Cindy and Jim Green as they try desperately to become parents. Everything changes for Cindy and Jim one night. When all hope is lost, they wrote down all of the things they hoped for in a child, placed the pieces of paper in a box, then buried it in the garden along with their hopes and dreams. Later on that stormy night, a boy named Timothy emerged from the earth where the Green’s box of dreams had been buried.

10 year old Timothy was a different sort of boy with leaves that grow on his legs. Timothy teaches Jim and Cindy about what’s important in parenting and what really makes a family.

There is a side story about the struggling pencil factory where Jim and Cindy work, and subplots with Tim’s relationship to his father and Cindy’s relationship to her sister. It’s all interwoven throughout the film with Timothy having a hand in mending both relationships, and the problems at the factory. There is also a beautiful friendship formed between Timothy and a girl named Joni, who is a little different herself.

The movie begins with the Jim and Cindy telling their story at an adoption interview. They had wanted desperately to be biological parents, but through Timothy discovered that adoption was the answer to their prayers.

Prepare to have a box of tissues handy for this movie – it teared me up pretty good. I really enjoyed this heartfelt movie, but my mom didn’t like it as much, feeling it was too sad in parts. I didn’t see it that way, instead felt that Timothy served a wonderful purpose in showing Cindy and Jim what truly makes a family, and gave them a chance to learn what it is to be a parent. I think the ending of the movie was pretty wonderful, but don’t want to give too much away in case you haven’t seen it yet.

Check out this clip from the film…

Mom and I watched this late last night, after everyone else was in bed  I knew from previews and other reviews that it might not be one for the kids. After watching it for myself, I don’t recommend this movie for younger or sensitive kids. But your teens will probably enjoy watching it with you.

* I received The Odd Life of Timothy Green 2-Disc set for the purpose of this review. No compensation was received and all thoughts are 100% my own.