From Deseret News archives:
Failure to Launch
Failed jokes put 'Launch' in a wobbly trajectory
Film review
The title of "Failure to Launch" refers to the phenomenon of adult men who continue to live with their parents after they enter their 30s. But it could just as well refer to the film's many jokes that fizzle without attaining any sort of comic trajectory.
The film's hit-to-miss joke ratio isn't as favorable as you might wish.
You do have to admire a film that contains so many jokes, but it suffers from a cinematic personality disorder it goes back and forth between being a cutesy romantic comedy and a considerably more strained wacky comedy.
Matthew McConaughey stars as Tripp, a 35-year-old boat salesman. This commitment-phobic bachelor often uses his parents (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw) as a way to break up with girlfriends who get too serious about their relationship.
Tom Dey's direction is far too tentative here. And sitcom writers Tom Astle and Matt Ember have overstuffed the script with gags, as well as characters and subplots.
The best of the latter involves Paula's caustic roommate, Kit, played by Zooey Deschanel, who, frankly, deserves her own movie. As do some of the other supporting performers especially Bates, and Justin Bartha, who plays one of Tripp's loser pals.
McConaughey and Parker don't really look right together, but, in fact, they have more chemistry than you'd expect.
"Failure to Launch" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called R-rated curse word), crude sexual references, sex talk and other sexual content, comic violence (mostly pratfalls and animal attacks, done for laughs), a pair of brief sex scenes, some brief nudity (a male backside), and some brief drug content (references). Running time: 95 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel
Find a Movie Theater
- States ignoring sex offender rules? 8:33 p.m.
- Sad to see rival Bowden retire 8:27 p.m.
- LA to submit bid to host World Cup 8:27 p.m.
- Find joy in life, Bishop Burton says 8:22 p.m.
- Mixed reaction for Obama's strategy 8:13 p.m.
- Men, women differ on fiscal outlook 8:08 p.m.
- New layoffs at USA Today 8:07 p.m.
- Execs make case for online fees 8:07 p.m.
- Duncan plans scaled-back facility 8:06 p.m.
- Most Utahns unhappy with Obama 7:55 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- MWC '09 season in review
- Jazz win 6th in 7 games
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
902 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
401 - Max Hall issues apology
387 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
344 - Utes won't respond to Hall
273 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
230 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
155 - BYU is champion of the state
142 - Religion in politics is tiresome
128
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the holiday retail season...
When "Dancing With The Stars" began more than two months ago, 16 couples...
Comedian Brian Regan, who is scheduled to perform at Abravanel Hall on...
...because I can think of way too many times when I have said really stupid...
why are there only a few all region teams listed? Where is region 4 mvp's...
to be happy or not.
I was tailgating with the fans you cited. Yes there was a BYU flag burned....
Wet, though BYU lost to FSU they did score a 28 point touchdown with extra...
How about a campaign for drinking in general. Maybe, "Drinking...it doesn't...
Health insurance is evil. The system either needs to be completely socialized...
So, you're just going to rely on good nature to fund roads, hospitals, etc.?...
Not that I care. ????????????????
In 2000: "High natural gas prices are a short term phenomenon." In 2003...



You can be the first to comment on this story.