May Cause Deja-Vu (Failure To Launch (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	Failure To Launch (DVD)
Date:	12/04/06 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ambles along nicely, good mouth to mouth on a bird

Disadvantages: Just the same as every other rom-com out there

Is there anything fresh and original about the romantic comedy genre anymore? Let’s face it there’s only so much spin you can put on the boy meets girl plot before it feels like something you’ve seen over and over again.

Failure To Launch is the latest entry into the Matthew McConaughy rom-com and it’s probably the same as all the other ones he’s done. Now I haven’t seen them but I’d bet a fair sum on them turning out the same as this.

He plays a thirty something named Tripp (yes that’s right – Tripp). The thing with Tripp is that he still lives at home and never looks like moving out. He shys away from long term relationships and usually breaks them up when girls realize he still has his mum make him breakfast in the morning.

But his parents want the house to themselves and find the perfect way to do it. They get introduced to Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), a woman who specializes in getting men out of their childhood home and into their own place. She does this by staging a chance meeting, going on a date, spending time with them and making them feel independent. They move out, the parents are happy and Paula breaks it off and moves on to the next job.

But what do you know, she meets Tripp and it becomes more than just a job. She ends up liking him and one thing leads to another. Will Tripp discover Paula’s secret, will their relationship go anywhere and will Tripp ever move out of his parent’s house?

Well you can probably guess the outcome of this film from the outset. There are zero surprises. This kind of film annoys me, as I can’t really say it was great and it can’t say it was bad either. It merely passes the time and entertains whilst never attempting to bring anything new to the table.

As a comedy it’s merely a smile raiser rather than a laugh riot. The only time I was more than amused came when a bird had to be resuscitated with mouth to mouth. There are other attempts at mirth, which involve Tripp getting bitten by various animals on his outdoor adventure pursuits. God knows why but the producers probably thought it was funny and something for the trailer.

McConaughy is perfectly fine as the male lead, Parker is perfectly fine as the female lead. There’s not much more I can say. Zooey Deschanel is quirky as Paula’s housemate and probably has the best scenes. In fact I’d probably have enjoyed the movie more if she was in the lead and Tripp’s buddy Ace (yes that’s right – Ace) was the lead male because they have the amusing moments. Kathy Bates is as solid as ever playing Tripp’s mom whilst Bradley Cooper plays another of Tripp’s mates and again is adequate.

Director Tom Dey made the great Shanghai Noon, followed it up with the lame Showtime and now settles for safe ground. The film could have been better, it could have been worse. Directorially it’s one of those films that anyone with an ear for light froth could have made.

So all in all this is movie that folks in the know call a ‘chick flick’. Women will like it because it’s nice and inoffensive. Guys will just be happy to get through the 100-minutes of fluff. Me, I saw it for free but it’s definitely not one I’d fork out £6 to watch.

Rating for chicks – ****
Rating for guys - **
Rating for guys who want to appease their partner – ***

Summary: He was a guy, she was a girl, his parents wanted him out, she was the way out...