It was aired very often in the late nineties on TV here, especially on hours suitable for children like sunday afternoons. Probably a nice choice to watch with kids. It’s a variation on the theme of the tale of the Genius and Aladdin. In my memories I find it difficult to distinguish from another title, The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid, in which similarly Bud stars together with a kid.
Oh and… no, even if there’s a town in the United States, a sheriff, and strange and paranormal things happening… that’s not a movie which Thimbleweed Park was inspired by 
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