Failure to Launch (2006) Movie Review

It's a Keeper! Funny, Witty and Very Entertaining

I watched Failure to Launch on an afternoon flight from London to Miami and laughed at practically every scene...but that's me. Laughing out-loud on an airplane was getting a little embarrassing, but what the heck, I was having fun.

The appealing on screen chemistry between Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, and the great-story line, made Failure to Launch entertaining from start to finish. Their characters, Tripp and Paula, meet when Tripp's parents, played by Kathy Bates and Terry Bradsaw, hire Paula, a professional who specializes in getting 30+ year-old men out of their parent's home and living on their own. Paula describes Tripp's condition as "failure to launch."

Paula and Tripp's best friends, Kit and Ace, played by Zooey Deschanel and Justin Bartha are non-conventional characters. Kit has a dry-sense of humor and Ace is a nerd. But when they meet up, Kit and Ace provide some of the film's funniest lines. Deschanel was well-cast as Kit and she added much to the films overall charm.

The strong character development and great esemble cast move this entertaining and funny film along. You come away wanting to spread the word to your friends that this one is worth seeing.

Failure to Launch is already out on DVD at the time of my writing this review. It's well-worth renting. I added it to my home DVD library so I can enjoy it over and over again. This one's a keeper!


Written and Posted by meeshmiami
Orginally written August 2, 2006
Posted on eBay August 25, 2007

Failure to Launch (2006, DVD)

The plot of Failure to Launch is utterly implausible, yet the movie is thoroughly fun. Tripp (laid-back Matthew McConaughey, Sahara, Dazed and Confused) is a 35-year-old man who still lives with his parents (Kathy Bates, Misery, and ex-quarterback Terry Bradshaw)--and they aren't happy about it. Eager to get him out of the nest, they hire Paula (Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker), a professional motivator who feigns relationships with boy-men so that their improved self-esteem will lead them to leave the nest. But Tripp's not the usual insecure shut-in Paula's used to, and as sparks fly, Paula finds herself losing her professional distance. This sort of set-up drove classic screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s; once you embrace the absurdity, the movie zips along with a surprising balance of humor and bittersweet shadings. Failure to Launch gets a huge boost from the supporting performance of Zooey Deschanel (Elf) as Paula's housemate Kit--part sourpuss, part tomboy, and entirely sexy and winning. McConaughey and Parker have enjoyable chemistry and carry the movie well, but Deschanel is an oddball romantic-heroine-in-waiting. Also featuring Bradley Cooper (Alias) and Justin Bartha (National Treasure).

Failure to Launch (Blu-ray Disc)

Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker star (with all star support from Terry Bradshaw, Kathy Bates and Zooey Deschanel) in this romantic comedy about a thirty-something who still lives at home - but the folks want him out. McConaughey plays Tripp, a thirty-ish boat salesman and his parents, Al & Sue (played by Bradshaw and Bates) love their son, but want him out of the house and in a place of his own. They call in a specialist, Paula (Parker). Paula has made a career out of pretending to fall in love with men so that they will move out on their own. The only problem is that Tripp doesn't take the bait - and tries to get her to break up with him before things get serious. There are some very funny momments along the way - the animal attack scenes, Terry Bradshaw in his 'naked room', the attempted assassination of a noisy mockingbird - and the fantastic cast make this a wonderful romantic comedy. If you're looking for a deep story with meaningful dialog - this si not the movie for you. But if you like fun movies with a happy ending(let's face it, all romantic comedies are predictable), try this one.

Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates have some really funny lines and Zooey Deschanel paired with Justin Bartha (Tripp's best friend, Ace) are a riot.

Failure to Launch

"Failure to Launch" is a funny, too-true tale of how some men find it difficult to leave behind the comforts of their parents' home long into adulthood.


Trip (Matthew McConaughey) meets Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) after the consultant is hired secretly by Trip's parents to get him out of their house. Paula is convinced she has a full-proof system to nudge a man from the nest, but things get complicated when feelings between the two develop.
The laugh's are found in the sideline characters, from the Mom (Kathy Bates) and the Dad (football's Terry Bradshaw) to best buds Kit (Zooey Deschanel), Ace (Justin Bartha) and Demo (Bradley Cooper).


Pick up some popcorn and watch this one , once.

Failure to Launch (2006, DVD)

Arguably the best romantic comedy to be released recently has been the smart, witty "Two Weeks Notice" with the heretofore Queen and King of Romantic comedies: Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. Is "Failure to Launch" (a terrible title, by-the-way) and Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Mc Conaughey up to the level of Bullock and Grant?
Yes and No.
Yes in that both performers are dazzlingly beautiful and charming and very much fun to watch. And No in that the writing, pacing of "FTL" is no where near as intelligent and strong as "TWN." is
With that said, Parker and Mc Conaughey as Tripp and as an extension Kathy Bates as Mc Conaughey's mother and Zooey Deschanel as Parker's loopy roommate are first rate which is a good thing as comedies often rise or fall on the brilliance or lack thereof of the supporting players.
The premise of "FTL" is risky in that Parker's character, Paula basically makes men fall in love with and bond with her so that they will move out of their parent's house. But what happens to the men involved when they realize the ruse? Or more to the point when they realize that Paula's not really in love with them? These concerns are never really addressed properly and the film suffers for it.
"Failure to Launch" is above average and saved from being a total disaster only by the winning performances of all the actors.