68 replies to this topic

[Earwolf Admin]

Tim Heidecker joins us for what turns out to be a serious discussion about The Odd Life of Timothy Green. We talk about Timothy’s relationship with Baby Mila Kunis, the Titanic portrait drawing scene, and Common sizing up kids to be on a soccer team. Jason teared up once again, Tim genuinely likes the movie for what it is, and Paul & June didn't enjoy it. Be sure to get your tickets for a special Valentine’s Day episode of How Did This Get Made? LIVE Feb. 13th at Largo!

[pokey]

Great episode! I could've listened to another hour of it.

[Lukas Holmes]

pokey, on 22 January 2013 - 01:56 AM, said:

Great episode! I could've listened to another hour of it.

Seriously, they really did a great job on this one. Very even handed and some great conversation. I found the video of the kids being upset at the ending, very upsetting myself.

[jeffdacock]

I thought this fort in the forest looked like something a serial killer from a Morgan Freeman Thriller would have built.

And I completely agree with your thoughts about Flight. Disappointing. If you want to see a good film about an alcoholic watch Barfly instead.

[PlanBFromOuterSpace]

jeffdacock, on 22 January 2013 - 06:52 AM, said:

I thought this fort in the forrest looked like something a serial killer from a Morgan Freeman Thriller would have built.

I imagine that that's also the kind of person that uses Stamps.com. Anyone else find it ironic that entering "Bomb" on a mailing web site gets you a DISCOUNT and a no-risk trial?

Seriously, that sounds like a service for serial killers and kidnappers. If you're that concerned about avoiding confrontation at the post office and you're putting packages in mailboxes in the middle of the night, you're PROBABLY dealing in body parts, ransom notes, drugs, or other materials that will get you the exact opposite of a "no-risk" trial. WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?!?

[seanotron]

Lukas Holmes, on 22 January 2013 - 06:41 AM, said:

I found the video of the kids being upset at the ending, very upsetting myself.

Honestly, I felt like that video demonstrated far worse parenting than this movie.

[pbnews]

Jason's voice sounded a little different during that clip at 29:40... It's OK, buddy -- it's just a movie!

[Inthehallwaynow]

like pete holmes says "what are you.. the best!?" haha this was such a good episode there is no better feeling than laughing at crying children... great job!

[klem_johansen]

I have a hard time imagining Zappa telling his kids this story and as a coda saying "and you know, one day that story will become a movie that will eventually become fodder for the HDIGM follow-up to Anaconda. Goodnight, kids."


EditL: I might track this movie down just for the pencil factory montage.

[LemonDropKid]

Ebert liked it. ***1/2

[Hot - Slunch]

I saw this movie on a plane a few months back. I wasn't even listening to it because I had my ipod, but I watched and hated it. I wish they would've torn it apart a lot more but it's understandable that they didn't, since 2/4 people enjoyed it.

I mean there were genuinely fucked up moments in this movie, like the dodgeball scene... There was horrendous parenting and just terrible people populating this world. Maybe these people shouldn't have kids if they are that awful? They really needed a practice, magical kid to learn how to not be assholes?

What the hell was going on with the kid saving the factory? Dude, you came from a tree and you're actively supporting deforestation to make pencils.

I'm all for the original ideas and weirdness, but it just felt imbalanced. It got dark while trying to keep a fairy tale facade. I've forgotten most of it, but I did not enjoy a second of it.

[katieofpluto]

It seemed like the movie was trying to make the ending about how Timothy 'touched' all these people's lives and gave them each a reminder of it through his distribution of leaves, but we never actually see anyone have a change of heart! The sister gets shown up at the soccer game and the music recital, but we never see her come around to liking Tomothy or enjoying his unique style. We see the dad get yelled at, but we never see him become proud of his son or 'start over' by embracing Timothy as a new son. Having a comeuppance doesn't mean they've had character development. And the other people he gives leaves to never had a problem with him in the first place (Joni, the gay florist, etc).

And I would argue the parents never become better parents. If they had, why didn't we ever see them apply the lessons they learned? If the point was that they put too much pressure on him to be good at soccer, why didn't we see a scene where they cheer him on without pressure to score the goal? If one of their problems was that they didn't trust Joni, why didn't they have a scene of them welcoming her into their home?

The movie just ASSUMES that we think that people have changed, without showing us any sort of change.

Also, it was like the movie couldn't decide whether the parents' flaw was that they were helicopter parents who were overly controlling of Timothy (the dodgeball game, soccer, the music recital) or if they were overly ABSENT from his life. For example, he falls into a pool and appears to be drowning (he wasn't, but if he were a normal kid he would be) and they don't notice at all. He keeps running off to see Joni, but they never seem to notice until he comes back or they see the two together.

Also, to end this rant, why was Joni's first thought when she jumped into the pool to take off his socks instead of bringing him back to the surface so he doesn't die?

[Cabbagehead]

Interesting ep today, really enjoyed it guys.

[Peter_Awesome]

I'm so glad that Stamps.com is totally illegal!

[PlanBFromOuterSpace]

katieofpluto, on 22 January 2013 - 11:22 AM, said:

And the other people he gives leaves to never had a problem with him in the first place (Joni, the gay florist, etc).

They never had a problem him, but maybe HE had a problem with the florist being gay, and that was his way of saying "I forgive you for your alternative lifestyle. It's not natural, like me, a hybrid of plant and man that comes from nature itself (the most natural thing there is!), but we can't all be perfect". Everybody just assumes that the kid loves everybody, but he's got to have some serious identity issues going on himself and is probably one hateful son of a bitch behind closed doors. However, I've never seen the film in it's entirety or the scene in question, so there's a 50% chance that I'm 100% wrong.

[boognish00]

Just so Jason knows, Frank Zappa was never "tweaked out". The man never did drugs, only drank beer and fucked girls. So Tim was right, Timothy Green probably had it's roots in a drunken bed-time story

[wyldride]

"What's wrong with the love interest of a 10 year old being 15?" - George Lucas

[Jacob C]

Easily a top 5 episode. As much as I love the exasperating energy of most HDTGM episodes, I hope this leads to a trend of more frequent "serious" discussions of the films' failings and merits.

Also, I nearly spat out my morning coffee upon hearing "Permanently unavail: Cemetery."

[Wien]

This is the podcast equivelant of "A very special episode..." from those old sitcoms.

Good stuff.

[JustinL]

I cry at everything. I bawled in Kung Fu Panda 2. This movie couldn't squeeze a single tear out of me. It never invites you in. It yells at you to feel something for its characters and it's completely unjustified.

Also, they wanted him to have a sense of humor like Uncle Bubbles, but other than one "Why'd the chicken cross the road?" joke he only ever had that sense of humor with Uncle Bubbles.

I'll say one positive thing: I genuinely liked the "Lowrider" scene. I hated that it was just brushed aside in the podcast. While the setup was ridiculous, that was the only time in the film I thought the parents actually went, "Yeah, you know what? I'm an asshole. Fuck me. BUP-BUP-BUP-BUP BUP BUP BUP! BUP-BUP-BUP BUP BUP!"