Failure to Launch Review

by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)
April 2nd, 2006
Failure to Launch - "Manages Takeoff"

Take two very likable romantic partners and add
in a pinch of sin and some duplicity. Meanwhile,
in that same mixture, take two other romantic goofballs and supply them with oddball antics.
I'm not sure what you eventually get. But, there
it is. It's "Failure to Launch," a genial comedy
with genial actors who do all sorts of genial
things.

Genial, as I look up the definition on
dictionary.com, defines this word as: Having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner. Yup,
give the Sexiest Man Alive Matthew McConaughey
his due. He's just that. And, in this film, he
plays Tripp, an attractive fellow who seems so
laid back that this 30-something is still living
at home with his parents. It's not even like he
once moved out and then moved back in. No, Tripp
has never left the home to the growing concern of
his lovable (and yes, genial!) parents.

They are played by Cathy Bates, who seems
frumpier than usual, and Terry Bradshaw, who
seems to have more energy commentating NFL
football games. Nonetheless, they are the genial schemers behind a slightly unscrupulous plan to encourage Tripp to move out and to get on with
his life.

While their little idea involves introducing
their son to the also-cute and very-together
Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), I would favor
another less costly plan, which I read in a
comedic guide on what to do with children who do
not leave the nest. Now, most financial experts
or writers list common sense tips on how to
motivate "boomerang" young adults to move out:
charge them rent, get them to do a financial
plan, or set a timeline for when they can afford
to get their own place. However, this author
says: "If you are a parent with a child in
college, you need to take steps to prevent the
child from moving back in with you. One excellent
way is for you and your spouse to start walking
around the house naked." The author of this
guide is Dave Barry, syndicated humor columnist.
And, I think, Terry Bradshaw must have read his
book.

Sarah Jessica Parker shows her big screen
potential. And she carries her confidence well
as the woman who will lure Tripp out of there.
She implements a full-proof plan. If there was a label for it, it would be The Girl's 5 Essential
Steps to Capturing a Man's Heart. 1) Develop a level of comfort by having the girl encourage the
guy to ask her out on a date. 2) Get the guy
to teach the girl something that the guy thinks
is cool. 3) Get the guy to introduce her to his friends. 4) Get the guy to invite the girl to
meet the parents. 5.) Never have sex. Huh?
Yup, that's supposed to be off limits. No, she's
not a prostitute. Yet, she's not really an
interested girlfriend. In her case, that
provides her with all the leverage. Oooh...how manipulative.

But as with all romantic comedies, she'll
eventually break the golden rule. That's the one where you're not supposed to mess with a man's
heart. But they struggle for a resolution amid
the backdrop of quirky characters. The film
takes some chances by shifting the humor from Ace-Ventura:-Pet-Detective-odd to the off-center musings of supportive-if-equally-mal-adjusted
friends. But it's hard not to like it just as it
is easy not to love it. It is - genial!

Grade: B

S: 1 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 0 out of 3

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