A perfect boy, a faulty plot

Garner is quite good at making us connect with a character’s emotions, and if “Odd Life” has a hope of earning tears, it’s through Cindy. The rough-edged Edgerton is more earnest and eager than good as a dad with dad issues of his own (Morse plays his father). But the kid is radiant, a convincingly buoyant boy who makes innocent mistakes because he is just that — utterly innocent.

Here’s the film’s fatal flaw: The story is told in flashback, with the Greens trying to convince an adoption counselor (Shohreh Aghdashloo) to give them another try at parenthood. Something went wrong with Timothy, but if they can just tell their incredible story to her, maybe they’ll get another shot.

Writer-director Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” “Pieces of April”) isn’t telling a story with enough magic, emotion or mystery to it to overcome that giveaway. This cumbersome device, interrupting whatever flow this “Edward Scissorhands” variation can muster (even the music sounds similar), robs the tale of the poignancy it aims for.

And without that heart, no delightful musical moments (Garner and Edgerton sing and dance), no wistful surprises built on Timothy’s pre-ordained character traits, earn anything more than a grin or a misty-eyed shrug.

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MOVIE REVIEW
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
**
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt, Dianne Weist
Director: Peter Hedges
Rating: PG for for mild thematic elements and brief language
Running time: 120 minutes