Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17221 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-17
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 humour 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). --Bret Fetzer

Synopsis
Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker, SEX AND THE CITY) has a highly unusual job in this at times cartoonish romantic comedy: she's an interventionist. What this means is that parents of young men who are still living at home well into adulthood can hire her to date their sons, which lends the often troubled men the fortitude to strike out on their own. Trip (Matthew McConaughey) seemingly fits this description perfectly; a 35-year-old extreme sports enthusiast and boat salesman, he uses his living situation to quickly end any relationship that becomes too serious. Trip's doting mother (Kathy Bates) and quirky father (former quarterback Terry Bradshaw) hire Paula at their friends' adamant recommendation, and she sets about her tried-and-true method of winning Trip over. A few obstacles emerge, however, as Trip's buddy Ace (Justin Bartha) finds out the truth, and must be bribed by a date with Paula's hilariously hostile roommate Kit (Zooey Deschanel). Paula also discovers a few things about Trip's past that make her realise how different he is from the rest of her clients, but just as she begins to develop real feelings for him, disaster strikes. Some of the best and funniest moments in FAILURE TO LAUNCH are provided by its supporting cast. Deschanel provides dry, intelligent humour in a subplot involving a mockingbird that's taken up residence outside her window, as well as her courtship by adoring suitor Ace. Bates as usual gives a complex performance, doing much with the part provided for her, while a game Bradshaw is appealing in his eccentricities. The film's somewhat fantastical plot is quickly eclipsed by the charm of the characters, the irresistible slapstick humour, and, in the end, heart-warming sentiment and lessons learned.

Customer Reviews

Launches Fun
Trip (Matthew McConaughey) has a wonderful life. He's handsome, loves his job, and any time he wants to be dumped, he has the perfect plan. He just takes the girlfriend home and lets her find out he still lives with Mom and Dad (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw).

Of course, any intelligent man would still live with these parents. His mom cleans his room from top to bottom while he's in the shower every morning and always makes him a gourmet breakfast, something she doesn't even do for her husband.

His parents aren't as happy with the arrangement. In desperation, they turn to Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker). Paula makes her living helping "launch" guys from their parent's house to their own pad. She has a step by step approach that helps the guy build self-esteem to carry them to their own life. But what happens when she starts to fall for Trip?

Odds are you can probably guess most of this movie just from my plot description. So the job of a movie such as this is to keep the audience entertained so we forget we already know where we're going. Here, the movie really shines. Part of the fun is watching Paula at work. We know what she's up to, so several of the scenes become a joke as we watch Trip fall for each "step" hook, line, and sinker. To top this, there are several genuinely funny scenes, such as the scene that takes all the characters to play paintball. Even when the movie gets more serious in the final third, the overall tone is lighthearted.

Helping things along is the great cast. Everyone is having fun, and it keeps the tone light and the audience engaged. Special note goes to Zooey Deschanel. She plays Paula's moody, brooding roommate and is easily the funniest character in the movie.

No, this movie is not "great cinema." But it never set out to be. It is a fun romantic comedy that will keep everyone who watches it entertained. What else matters?

middleing
opinion certainly seems completely divided on this, "its brilliant", "its rubbish". fact is its neither, just another likeable romantic comedy that wont even come close to taxing your brain but that will help pass a pleasant enough 90 minutes.
Matthew McConaughey plays a self centered 30's man/boy who has absolutely no intention of flying the nest and Sarah Jessica Parker is the person brought in by his parents to help nudge him in the right direction.
There is nothing new whatsoever to find in the plot as misunderstandings and mistrust threaten to pull them apart but its all done well enough,( with the exception of a crowd cheering will they wont they scene that kind of leaves you feeling a little billious),. Parker avoids being annoying and McConaughey is laid back and amusing and between them they manage to create some spark that keeps things ticking along just fine while the script allows for enough amusing moments to keep you entertained.
The extras are just downright peculiar, hardly touching on the film itself. Rather they concentrate on the modern problem of men who just refuse to leave mum & dad to start their own lives.
The best one,( & weirdest ), has the 2 actors who play McConaugheys mates in the film judging a real life contest final of 3 cuckoos' who just wont leave home to decide which one should be awarded with a 6 months rent free flat in new york!
Picture is clear enough and so is the sound.
As rom-coms go this isn't ever going to worry any of the best but its not bottom of the pile either. just keep your expectations reasonably in check and this should work just fine for you.

Failure to launch
This was one of them films I had seen advertised in the magazines and on tv that I never remembered to go and see. So once I found it on Amazon I was relatively chuffed!

I watched Failure to Launch the day that I received it and was left feeling a little... empty? Although the film itself is ok, I felt there was no real gripping storyline and the characters were a little unconvincing. The film was what you could say a romantic but a very dry one at that.

I wouldn't try to disencourage anyone from renting/buying this dvd, but I did feel like it was one of them watch on a rainy day if there's nothing else on films.