| FAILURE TO LAUNCH |
 2006 - USADirector: Tom Dey
- Reviewed by Vickie
Matthew McConaughey and his alien-like gleaming-white teeth star as Trip, a likable 35-year-old guy, who works as a boat broker and enjoys a blissfully happy home life living in the same house with his parents (Kathy Bates, Terry Bradshaw). He gets his laundry done, his room cleaned, his meals on the table and he can stay out as late as he wants! Cool! His two best friends—computer nerd Ace (Justin Bartha) and spiritual wanderer Demo (Bradley Cooper)—are in the same boat themselves, and loving it just as much. As far as they’re all concerned, they’re a rare and courageous breed of man who should be celebrated, not mocked. Too bad Trip’s mom and dad don’t feel the same way. After 35 years, they’re desperate for him to leave the nest. When one of their friends recommends the services of Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker)—a woman who’s made it her personal mission (and business) to draw people like Trip out of their ruts and into the world—they lay down the cash and await results. Paula’s M.O. is to feign romantic interest long enough to give her subject the boost of self-confidence he needs to move out on his own, but her patented plan is thrown for a loop when she begins work on Trip… and actually starts to like him. Being the kind of movie this is, it’s not much of a mystery how the action will play itself out, and there aren’t really many surprises plot-wise. But what saves it from being dull and tedious are the performances of the cast—specifically, the supporting players. McConaughey and Parker are fine, but neither does anything new or remarkable. He’s charming in a neo-hippie kind of way, and she’s mildly neurotic but fun. Been there, seen that before. Instead, it’s actors like Bartha and Cooper and Zooey Deschanel (!) who add plenty of flavor to the proceedings. As Trip’s buddies, Bartha and Cooper are awkward and oafish and very much like overgrown 12-year-olds. But they’re also endearing and silly and, despite their housing situations, attractive and appealing. The film’s standout, though, is Deschanel, who turns in yet another memorable character as Paula’s best friend Kit – the most wickedly fun dark cloud since Amanda Foreman’s Megan on TV’s Felicity. Cynical and so-dry-she’s-arid, Kit brightens every scene she’s in despite her (hilarious) perpetual foul mood. There are some missteps from time to time. An overly long scene involving a near-dead bird and Trip’s repeated run-ins with violent little animals are unnecessary and kind of lame, and I don’t think anyone needed the extended joke of Terry Bradshaw’s naked ass prancing around onscreen. Funny for a second, now move on. But otherwise, there isn’t anything awful or unwatchable about it. Just grab your glass of milk and understand that the chocolate cake of summer is only a couple of months away. |
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Failure to Launch is the kind of innocuous comedy typical for
this time of year. It’s not terrible and it’s not amazing, it’s just
kind of there, in a completely inoffensive but not wholly
satisfying way. It’s like a slice of lemon pound cake that you eat and
enjoy, even though you had a mad craving for a giant piece of decadent
chocolate cake: good enough, I guess, but not quite perfect.
