Failure to Launch

last updated 8 January 2015

Tripp is a 35-year-old yacht salesman who has it all, said Christopher Kelly in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 'œGood job, good looks, supportive family.' Gorgeous women throw themselves at him. And when he wants to get rid of them, he takes them home—to his parents' house. In the real world, 'œTripp's sociopathic behavior would qualify him for a one-way ticket to the funny farm.' But in Hollywood, it makes him 'œa dashing hero in his very own romantic comedy.' Even more dysfunctional is the woman Tripp's parents hire to lure him from home, said Meghan Keane in The New York Sun. Paula makes a living seducing eternal 'œadult children' into leaving the nest. The story almost works. Matthew McConaughey is 'œtailor-made to play Tripp.' But while Sarah Jessica Parker's 'œtrademark tresses and patented strut get her pretty far,' she struggles with the unenviable task of portraying an intelligent woman who sees no moral dilemma in her work. The greatest pleasure here is watching the supporting cast, said Chris Kaltenbach in the Baltimore Sun. Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw are terrifically funny as Tripp's parents. But the real scene-stealer is Zooey Deschanel as Paula's roommate Kit, who 'œmilks every laugh possible out of the character.'

Rating: PG-13