Failure to Launch (2006)

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

Director:

Tom Dey

Writers:

Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Bates

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 #1
Patton Oswalt	...	Techie Guy
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Bud
Kate McGregor-Stewart	...	Bev
Adam Alexi-Malle	...	Mr. Axelrod
Gretchen Cleevely	...	Gretchen the Veterinarian

Storyline

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?

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Plot Keywords:

friend | intervention | moving | slacker | secret | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount [United States] UIP [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Faux départ

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$52,156 (Chile) (9 June 2006)

Gross:

$73,292 (Chile) (16 June 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Failure to Launch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 95 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Duvall was originally cast to play Al, before he was replaced by Terry Bradshaw.

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Goofs

On the evening that Tripp prepares dinner, his parents and Paula are seated at the table. Tripp stands to announce a toast with a glass of wine in his left hand. He switches it to his right hand as he starts the toast, but during the announcement the glass disappears and reappears at the end of the toast.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.4 (2010)

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Soundtracks

This Love
Composed by Michael Goldwasser
Performed by Jr. Jazz

User Reviews

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!)