With a cutesy premise that subtly suggests misandry, Failure to Launch is unmistakably a romantic comedy set out to lure women over 30 and their unsuspecting mates-in-training.
Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) is a 35-year-old bachelor still living with his parents, Al (Terry Bradshaw) and Sue (Kathy Bates). A modern-day Peter Pan who refuses to grow up, Tripp plays hard with his buddies Ace (Justin Bartha) and Demo (Bradley Cooper) – but nothing sinister or naughty, mostly normal, albeit juvenile, activities such as rock-climbing, surfing, video game-playing, and pizza-eating. Tripp is also a serial womanizer, and when a woman shows any signs of attachment, he promptly takes her to “meet the parents,” revealing his status as the loser who still lives with his parents, thus thwarting any potential commitment issues.
Enter Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), a professional “motivator,” whom Al and Sue hire to help Tripp move out of their house. According to Paula’s step-by-step program, she plans to become Tripp’s girlfriend and eventually convinces him that he should grow up and move on. All goes well until Paula starts to fall for Tripp.
McConaughey (Two for the Money) once again is the tanned and taut romantic lead who has serious issues with commitment. His portrayal of the character is smarmy at times, and sincere at others. But overall, McConaughey phones in a cookie-cutter performance. Fresh off her respectable performance as a frigid woman in The Family Stone, Parker reprises her Carrie Bradshaw-like role as the sexy but lovelorn Paula. She’s as equally tanned and taut as McConaughey, and just as charming. The problem is that we really don’t know much about these two characters, and their performances do not rise above the material. Worse, they share little chemistry together as a couple.
Bradshaw (Robots) is cuddly and fun as Tripp’s dad, Al, and he is brave enough to do a nude scene (albeit an unsightly one) just for laughs. Bates (Rumor Has It) gets to keep her clothes on, but her homely portrayal of mama Sue lacks her usual bite and wit. Bartha (National Treasure) plays to his strength as Tripp’s geeky pal Ace, and Cooper (Wedding Crashers) is charming and goofy as pal Demo, the last of the trio. Quirky and lovely Zooey Deschanel (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) is the standout here as Paula’s roommate and friend, Kit.
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