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Failure to Launch Review

Release Date: Mar 10, 2006
Rated: sexual content, partial nudity and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 36 min.
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Director:Tom Dey
Cast:Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

1.5

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

… a widescreen unfunny sitcom … Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

47

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
25

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
The premise is misbegotten, the chemistry non-existent and the dialogue leaden. Did we mention how tediously the plot unfolds?

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25

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
During the course of Failure to Launch, characters are bitten by a chipmunk, a dolphin, a lizard and a mockingbird. I am thinking my hardest why this is considered funny, and I confess defeat.

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50

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
If you like Kathy Bates movies, you'll probably be frustrated with this one, since as Tripp's mother, the invaluable character actress is made to whipsaw between playing sappy domestic slave to her son's laundry and salty, overly sexual wife.

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50

out of 100

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano
Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker look and act, quite attractively, like grown-ups, and their easy rapport makes them convincing and appealing as an on-screen couple. So all throughout Failure to Launch, I found myself wishing they were in a different movie, maybe one as sophisticated as "The Philadelphia Story," which the movie references, but doesn't remotely live up to.

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50

out of 100

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
Thanks largely to Ms. Parker and to the delectable Zooey Deschanel as her anhedonic house-mate, the filmmakers still manage to squeeze some juice out.
50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
McConaughey and Parker get stranded with thanklessly predictable scenes, while Zooey Deschanel, Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw garner the film's few laughs.

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60

out of 100

Variety Brian Lowry
An especially slight romantic comedy whose modest charms are derived largely from its supporting players.

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60

out of 100

The New York Times Stephen Holden
The movie has only the most tenuous connection with reality. But the same could be said of classic 30's screwball comedies in which the treacherous feints and ploys of the mating game are transmuted into witty, romantically charged repartee.

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See all Failure to Launch reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 14+

Formulaic romcom isn't meant for kids.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie may not appeal to teens, who probably don't care much about an immature 35-year-old. The movie includes frequent comic sexual references. The film opens on a date that ends with a couple in bed, Tripp's parents appear in bed together (and Terry Bradshaw appears naked in one scene, with fish tank judiciously placed to hide his privates). Paula pretends to have her ailing dog put to sleep (and cries about it) in order to win Tripp's sympathy; they have sex one night in his bedroom (you see parents listening to moans and squeals). Several scenes of comic violence. Lots of drinking.

Families can talk about the phenomenon of adult children living with their parents. How does Tripp's perpetual adolescence affect his parents? Why is Tripp so afraid to grow up? Does the movie glamorize "the bachelor lifestyle"? What stereotypes does this movie rely upon?

The good stuff

Messages: Paula is hired to seduce Tripp; the adolescent-adult male character is a tired cliché.

What to watch for

Violence: Tripp is bitten by various animals, falls off a short cliff, crashes his bike; someone shoots a bird, which is then resuscitated.
Sex: Sexual situations include innuendo, activity in bed; " interventionist" is hired to seduce hero away from living at his parents. Naked male backside.
Language: Some profanity, including f-word and a few mentions of s---t.
Consumerism: Cars (Porsche), Mint Milanos, Apple and Dell laptops.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Lots of drinking.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Average Rating: 3.447

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