The Odd Life of Timothy Green Reaches Great Heights

Review: Film
Genre: Fantasy, Family, Comedy

Run Time: 105 minutes

Release Date: 2012

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Rating: *****

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

            Disney’s 2012 film The Odd Life of Timothy Green leaves family members of every age with hope, happiness and helpful life lessons.

Plot

Jim and Cindy Green hope to have a child only to discover that one of them is infertile.  This leads to the beginning scene where the couple has a meeting with two social workers at an adoption agency.  The movie alternates between the meeting and a tale about the couple’s previous experience with Timothy, a boy who sprouted from their garden.

           

NEGATIVE INFLUENCES

One may see negative influences in various parts of the movie, though they appear few.  In one scene, two classmates spread food over Timothy’s face.   Afterwards Jim approaches the classmates’ father, Jim’s boss, about the issue, and the boss responds, “Your son ratted out my boys?”  This encounter leads Jim to teach Timothy to fight back.  This scene does not teach the viewers that bullying is wrong.  It teaches them to fight, which may not be the message that parents want to portray. 

Sexual Themes

The couple share three brief kisses.  Also, in the pool party scene a girl is wearing a bikini and another reveals her stomach as she is wearing a midriff shirt.

Language

A character swears once (he**) and there are two inappropriate uses of religious words.

Violence

A boy kicks a girl in the head.

Drug Use

There is no drug use.

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES

Music

Instrumental music is used in the movie to create emotion.  A slow and sad tone of music plays when Jim and Cindy are meeting with an adoption agency.  Later, quick and happy music rings out as Timothy rides a bike through town with his friend Joni. 

Characters

The characters are distinct.  The father is hard working, the son is cheerful, funny and relaxed, and the mother’s personality is loving, at times over protective and worrisome.  For example, in the middle of the movie, she calls her husband at work to tell him to look out the window at their son with a girl.  “He’s too young [to be close to a girl].  You told him to run the other way, and he’s not running.”  She tells her husband multiple times that Timothy should not spend time with that girl.

The Green Family

Timothy and Joni

Lessons

Positive elements shine throughout each scene as Timothy teaches optimism, kindness and honesty to each person he meets.  In one scene, Timothy is at his first soccer practice.  He runs at the ball to kick it and tumbles over the ball.  His coach asks, “Why are you smiling?” and Timothy responds, “I can only get better.”  Timothy also shows his honesty when his mom’s boss asks him his opinion of a painting that was done of her.  He hates it, so he tries to draw one.  He draws the woman as he sees her – hairy chin and all.

Conclusions

The Green family tale is encouraging to all ages.  The music is emotional, and the film is professionally-made.  Overall, it reaches great heights.