Metacritic Movie Ratings
Failure to Launch Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 60

  out of 100

  VarietyBrian 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 TimesStephen 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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• 50

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa 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 TimesCarina 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 JournalJoe 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.

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• 50

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterKirk 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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• 25

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia 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-TimesRoger 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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See all Failure to Launch movie reviews at Metacritic.com