MOVIE REVIEW: Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
Updated: Feb 10, 2020
So, it's been awhile since I picked up keyboard to computer. I needed a break to take care of some health issues. But, I've been wanting to come back to write more on our blog. And here we are...
Since the last time I blogged, Disney had launched its streaming service Disney+ which, last I checked, has now boasted 28.6 million subscribers.The service launched with a lot of great programming, including Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian, The World According to Jeff Goldblum from National Geographic, and a live-action remake of the classic Lady and the Tramp. One day, I hope to revisit these on the blog. But, for today, we will be looking at Disney+'s original movie Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
When I first heard of the movie, I thought it would be a kiddie movie nowhere near my demographic. Maybe it would be something for the Disney Junior set or, at most, the Disney Channel set. But, boy was I wrong. Adapted from the book of the same name by Stephen Pastis, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is a wonderful family friendly movie. Directed by Tom McCarthy, the film reminds me of Disney films gone by and is the kind of movie Disney should be releasing in the theaters if they weren't singularly focused on live-action remakes.
It is about a Timmy Failure (Winlsow Fegley) who believes himself to be the world's greatest detective who solves crimes with the help of his imaginary polar bear Total and his friend Rollo Tookus (Kei). All the while, he has to manage of minefield of obstacles including the cute girl who likes him Molly Moskins (Chloe Coleman), his dreaded teacher Mr. Crocus (Wallace Shawn) and his arch nemesis Corrina Corrina, aka the Nameless One (Ai-Chan Carrier) and receiving support from his mother (Ophelia Lovibond) and his guidance counselor (Craig Robinson).
The film is full of wonderfully dry and droll humor, expertly pulled off by Mr. Fegley. One could think that he has one note emotion constantly wearing a scowl on his face, but there are moments of tenderness where Fegley pulls off some nice nuanced performance. His chemistry with the rest of the cast is wonderful, particularly with his mother Patty, a single mother trying to raise a child with such a wild imagination, and her boyfriend Crispin (Kyle Bornheimer) who wants to be Timmy's friend.
I love the message of the film that you have to be true who you are, no matter how unorthodox you are. It is possible that Timmy is either autistic or has Asperger's syndrome which would add a nice texture to the story. I like that it's never something to be solved, but something that he and his community around him need to adapt to.
I was really pleasantly surprised by this film, including the quality given it was done directly for a streaming service. I could definitely see a sequel to this movie (there are seven books in the series) and would love to see Disney+ tackle them before the cast gets too old. Regardless, this is a film that could easily become a new Disney classic.