Failure to Launch (2006)

Director:

Tom Dey

Writers (WGA):

Tom J. Astle (written by) &
Matt Ember (written by)

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

To leave the nest, some men just need a little push.

Plot:

A thirtysomething slacker suspects his parents of setting him up with his dream girl so he'll finally vacate their home.

Plot Keywords:

Cpr | Bird Watching | Sailboat | Computer Programmer | Paintball

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Matthew McConaughey	...	Tripp
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Paula
Zooey Deschanel	...	Kit
Justin Bartha	...	Ace
Bradley Cooper	...	Demo
Terry Bradshaw	...	Al
Kathy Bates	...	Sue
Tyrel Jackson Williams	...	Jeffrey
Katheryn Winnick	...	Melissa
Rob Corddry	...	Gun Salesman
Patton Oswalt	...	Techie Guy
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Bud
Kate McGregor-Stewart	...	Bev
Adam Alexi-Malle	...	Mr. Axelrod
Gretchen Cleevely	...	Veterinarian

Also Known As:

Soltero en casa (Argentina) (Ecuador) (Venezuela) [es]
Zum Ausziehen verführt (Austria) (Germany) [de]
30aris apo spiti (Greece) [el]
A casa con i suoi (Italy) [it]
Amor por contrato (Spain) [es]
Armações do Amor (Brazil) [pt]
Cum sa dai afara din casa un burlac de 30 de ani (Romania) [ro]
Düs yakamizdan (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Faux départ (Canada: French title) [fr]
Hemma bäst (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Muuttohaluton poikamies (Finland) [fi]
Novia por contrato (Spain) [es]
Playboy à saisir (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, partial nudity and language.

Runtime:

97 min | Philippines:95 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:PG-13 | Hungary:16 | Ireland:12A | Finland:K-7 | France:U | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:14 | Iceland:L | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42417) | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG-13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The minor league baseball game Trip takes Paula to is a home game of the New Orleans Zephyrs.

Goofs:

Continuity: Kit's right arm as she and Paula have a drink; also, her left index finger is pointed in one shot then isn't in the next.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Melissa: I just feel really close to you.
Tripp: You are really close to me.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Appropriately named

I had high hopes for this movie. After all, I love all of the cast members. However, somehow, it just didn't do it for me. It was as if the screenwriters didn't know who they wanted to try to please. The over the top farcical scenes would have worked in a different movie, and the relationship scenes would have worked in a different movie. I think that one of the subplots involving Zooey Deschanel (who literally steals the show) would have been more interesting to watch than either of the two leads. Matthew McConaughey is admittedly good looking to watch, but his abs and cast have been his supporting cast long enough. And as much as I have loved Sarah Jessica Parker, she's looking a bit long in the tooth here, and is definitely too old to play the part.

Grade: C (But only for Zooey's sake, I loved her!)