Failure to Launch

UK Release: 31st March 2006

Watched on TV: Friday 9th September 2011

Rating: 12A

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Runtime: 1hr 37mins

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

IMDb Plot Summary: At 35, Tripp has an interesting job, a hip car, a passion for sailing, and a great house - trouble is, he lives with his parents. They want him out, so they hire Paula, an "interventionist," who has a formula in these cases: chance encounter, get him to ask her out, involve him in a trauma, meet his friends and get their nod, delay sex, have him teach her something, then launch him. It's worked up to now, but this gets complicated when Tripp thinks she's getting too serious and one of his pals is attracted to Paula's deadpan, semi-alcoholic roommate, who's plagued by a mockingbird. Too many secrets may scrub the launch, and what if Paula really likes him? Who can intervene then?

A Quick Review: Failure to Launch appears to be a standard rom-com with fluffy leads Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker (actually half decent in this) but with an interesting concept and some credibility given through guest stars Zooey Deschanel, Kathy Bates, Justin Bartha and Bradley Cooper, this film has more depth than most.

It is genuinely funny and heart-warming as well as not being completely predictable. There are also some brilliant side-plots's like, Deschanel’s with her scheme to kill the Mocking Bird - particularly hilarious one. And seeing Cooper pre-leading man, which he is now, is a charming insight and proof that he really is a wonderful actor.

Overall, Failure to Launch is one of my favourite recent rom-coms...

Score: 7.5/10