There are so many issues that plague the everyday lives of most men in their mid-30s: Should I be on time to work today? What should I pick up off of the floor and wear out tonight? When am I going to find the answers to inner peace? When should I move out of my parents' house? Wait a minute, that last one doesn't seem to be a very common quandry placed in the hands of your average man in his mid-30s. But it is, however, the subject of the most recent romantic comedy from Paramount Pictures, appropriately named Failure to Launch.
Failure to Launch is the story of Trip (Matthew McConaughey), the fearless and stubborn momma's boy who is completely comfortable living at home with his parents. Much of Trip's reluctance to spread his wings and move out of the house is based in the fact that he is able to carry on a worry-free existence. Trip's mother Sue (Kathy Bates) does his laundry, cleans his room, cooks him breakfast in the morning, and along with his father Al (Terry Bradshaw), she allows Trip to stay home without the slightest possibility of rent. On top of that, Trip's two friends Ace (Justin Bartha) and Demo (Bradley Cooper) share in his glory of live-at-home bliss. That is until Trip's folks decide to take action, hiring professional "motivator" Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to simulate a romance with Trip and cause him to man up and move out. And their plan is perfect, until the ever-professional Paula allows her emotions to begin to get in the way, falling for Trip's wit and charm, and ultimately putting a kink in the plans of his scheming parents.
This film is truly a date night movie in its essence, which is in many ways both a good thing and a bad thing. The good part is that it provides decent laughs thanks to the well planned and timely performances of the supporting cast. Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers) and Justin Bartha (National Treasure) provide significant comic relief with their antics as Demo and Ace, Trip's two extreme sports junkie friends. They provide a nice getaway from the meat of the film, which centers on the love story between Trip and Paula.
Article comments
1 - JELIEL³
A Tanguy rip-off/re-make. I haven't seen this one yet, but Tanguy was really funny.
2 - Sister Ray
Sounds like the kind of movie you see when you and a bunch of old friends are trying to coordinate schedules and get together at the movies - watchable, but more convenient than entertaining.