Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

I have been really surprised about the comments I have read for this movie so far as they suggest many people may have been mistaken about what it is about. The movie is not specifically for children which is where some of the confusion potentially comes from (given it is based on children's books) because a lot of the heavy dialogue (and little action) may go over their heads.

Timmy is a little boy who is rather disruptive & oblivious of most. His behaviour most likely however represents someone with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (unfortunately most comments so far suggest many people are unfamiliar with what this is). Timmy struggles with understanding what is going on around him & in order to deal with his life, has created a world that makes sense to him.

The characters of Mr Jenkins, Crispin & Patty are brilliant because they take Timmy seriously & recognise that he is not meaning to be rude; quite to the contrary, he is trying his best to do what is right. What is fantastic about these characters is that they model strategies to help him be successful, without destroying his identity. The movie also highlights the importance of differentiated learning so that all individuals are able to engage (as opposed to Mr Crocus' antiquated methods when dealing with atypical learners).

This movie is quietly affirming for those of us in close contact with children on the spectrum. It is a brilliant window into how the world might seem to them (& be different to ours) and is a reminder that we need to have patience and that eventually, with persistence it will all make sense. The movie is refreshing because it Is realistic; it is confusing and awkward at times, just like life is for any child that is feeling uncertain.

But it's a very good joke - laugh out loud funny at times. And there's a lot more to it than that - this movie is well worth a watch.

Watched this with my kids (8 & 10) and we loved it. Between the great casting and acting from everyone (especially Flo) to the main character's (Timmy Failure's) hard boiled and dry delivery of almost every line, this movie is spot on. Settle in for a fun detective adventure that weaves the quirkiness of Portland with the absurdities of an unsupervised, intelligent kid's imagination as he tries to solve his next case involving the class hamster, the "Russians", and a Segway.

Nice film. This little guy(the actor) is really talented. Haven't seen him before but I'm sure I will again. lol

Have to say though, from a movie perspective, I found this little guy to be sooo cute! lol I mean really, man. lmao What a clever little rascal. The pace of the movie was pretty decent and the writing was on point in my opinion. overall a good film and enjoyable for kids and adults alike. BUUT! I gotta say, I couldn't help getting annoyed and agitated at how the mother was parenting and how the general adults treated his cute but disrespectul disposition and lack of discipline. Though this is a movie, this IS, unfortunately, how too many ppl raise their kids. They want to be friends instead of disciplinarians. I have no problem with nurturing their skills, encouraging those lil quirks and unique characteristics(which is absolutely the way to go in my opinion, because that is how we let them become who they truly are and reach their full potential). But the problem is usually parents forget to also maintain the parent/child dynamic. So sure, the child grows up all clever and sharp but what happens when these clever, smart people are confronted with adversity? You know when life does it's life thing. When they don't get their way? When they get outsmarted or cheated or disrespected or heartbroken? What lessons of self discipline, self constraint and taking the high road and being the bigger person and understanding that you, as the song says, can't always get what you want will come into play? THIS is why we have so many cold, self-centered in the world. Adults have no idea how to deal because they were neglected the simple basic lessons of life that help us all live together on this one rock as big/small as it is. Sure, it may seem like I'm making a big deal out of a non-issue, but that kind of thinking too, is why the world is like it is. Start teaching children EARLY about discipline. Not to mention I lost count how many times this little boy could have been in danger. Children need to know that they are not grown. The world is too dangerous and THAT is not cute. But anyway, like I said, as a movie? Nice one. I would definitely recommend but, ppl, DISCIPLINE your children and stop trying to be BFF's. You're parents. You don't need to be BFF's. They can't change who u are. You will be their parents forever. TEACHING! That is your number one job! They and the world will thank you for it. We have enough driven, smart, successful, morally bankrupt ppl in the world.

Overall I thought this movie was good fun, something for a single viewing but not to put on a "Favorites" list for repeated viewing. In a nod to the title, it does feel like "Mistakes Were Made" in production; the movie feels incomplete. Like a car missing a seat, rear view mirror, a radio, and a tire. Whether some key scenes were left out, or cut for time, there is a sense that with appropriate tweaking this movie could have been much better. Additional background into what prompted this child to create the fantasy world he put himself in; why a polar bear?; what is the obsession with Russian spies?; what's up with the scarf? There are many things hinted at or teased, but we are not shown the reason for them. The potential is there, and other movies have used similar plot devices successfully, but like my car analogy there are parts missing.