Failure to Launch

Directed by: Tom Dey
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Terry Bradshaw, Kathy Bates
Running Time: 1 h 37 min

Matthew McConaughey is quickly becoming the male Meg Ryan. Romantic comedies are certainly his domain, and he has had a string of hits which position him as the leading man who is hard to catch, but willing to play the cat and mouse game of 30 something dating.

Sarah Jessica Parker, putting in a very Carrie Bradshaw type performance, steps into McConaughey's love interest role with much fire and spirit, though not as much chemistry as McConaughey had with Kate Hudson in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days".

Indeed, that film and this one share much the same tone and structure, as both leads are interested in each other for different motives, yet find themselves actually falling in love. If you think i'm spoiling it for you, then you obviously don't know the romantic comedy genre.

"Failure to Launch" is a welcome addition to the overdone genre, sharing room with some of the more recent better attempts, such as the aforementioned "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days", "The Wedding Planner" (also starring McConaughey), and "Down With Love". Though not as good as any of these films, "Failure to Launch" has many similar things going for it.

First of all, there's the generic naming of the cast. McConaughey stars as "Tripp", not to be confused with past performances as "Steve 'Eddie' Edison" or "Ben Berry", all of which could be confused for superhero names. It lets the audience know that he's a guy's guy, and in case you didn't catch it by the name, multiple scenes of Tripp doing buddy activities with the guys, will let you know he's a man-boy, just waiting for the love bug to hit.

Then, there's Parker's role as Paula, who comes with the requisite quirky friend, Kit, played by Zooey Deschanel. (i almost wish they'd kept her real name, to heighten the quirkiness). Of course, Kit is much more interesting than Paula, but that never enters the mind of the lead, because the male lead's best friend, who isn't looking for love, must blissfully fall for the female lead's friend, so there's always some karmic feel good moments during the inevitable breakdown between the leads before they confess their true love for each other. Again, i'm giving nothing away here folks.

So far, you must be saying, how can this formulaic drivel be entertaining. Well, thanks to a great supporting cast (c'mon, we'll watch Kathy Bates do anything, especially after that scene in "About Schmidt"), and two endearing leads, this film takes the genre's formula and plays it perfectly. A little bit of humour, a little bit of drama, some tension, but all entirely watchable, except for the ridiculous subplot that tries to connect the balance of nature to the harmony of Tripp's love life. That was annoying from start to finish.

Seeing as this was a review of a rental, i can recommend it for renting. i do pity those who paid for it in theatres, but i definitely approve of it for purveyors of romantic comedies.

Grade: B