The first trailer for The Odd Life Of Timothy Green had the unfortunate effect of painting what should be a heartstring-tugging tale of family and belonging as something like a horror movie, with a child birthed from the ground showing up at his prospective parents’ house in the middle of the night and a raging storm. This latest promo, which you can watch below, has some of that air about it, but taps more into the feel-good flavour that director Peter Hedges is intending.

With a story by Ahmet Zappa, Timothy Green finds childless, adorable-beyond-belief couple Jim and Cindy Green, played by Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton (who are both charming enough to sell that abundance of cuteness without verging into sickening territory) burying a box of wishes for their perfect child in the back garden. Cue the arrival of young Timothy (Cameron Adams), who would seem to be the answer to all of their prayers.

But there is something strange about the lad, aside from the fact he’s a boy with good manners. And that he came from the earth… He’s also got unusual leaves wrapped around his ankles. Still, he’s accepted into the Greens’ extended family and even makes friends with Odeya Rush’s Joni Jermome.

The fresh footage promises sun-dappled cinematography and warm, emotional storytelling, yet it remains to be seen if Hedges and co can keep the twee factor from overwhelming everything else. We’ll keep our fingers crossed, especially since the cast boasts good actors such as Ron Livingston, David Morse, Dianne Wiest, M Emmet Walsh and Rosemarie DeWitt.

The Odd Life Of Timothy Green is set for an August 15 release in the States, but there’s no locked date here just yet.