Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Table & a Ticket: "Failure to Launch"

By Kevin Casteel

Picture this: you meet the man of your dreams; he is tall, dark, and handsome, in his 30s… and still lives with his parents? That is the premise of the new, heartfelt romantic comedy, “Failure to Launch” (not a movie for Viagra).

In “Failure to Launch,” southern hottie Matthew McConaunghy plays Tripp, a 30-something playboy who happens to live with his two parents, Al (Terry Bradshaw) and Sue (Kathy Bates).

Sick of Tripp living in the house, Al and Sue hire Pauline (Sarah Jessica Parker) to help Tripp vacate the house once and for all. Pauline knows that in order to leave the nest, some men just need a little push.

Pauline’s intervention plan is title, “Failure to Launch” and it consists of Tripp falling in love with her, grieving with her, introducing her to his friends and teaching her something new; then he will be so romantically attached to her that he will move out of his parent’s house.

But the plan fails as Tripp falls head over heals for Pauline.

This film was a cute, quirky, but original romantic comedy. It was quite different from any romantic comedy that I have seen before, and I hold the plot responsible. The plot was a new, fresh, fun original idea that consisted of a great mixture of romance and comedy.

I, however, did not agree with the ending. I was excepting a full-throttle chase to the airport, and I got a finale that seemed rushed and incompetent.

Parker was brilliant in her role; however, she by no means stole the movie. She was not your typical romantic comedy damsel in distress; she was smart and had a good head on her shoulders. Parker made Pauline likable, sweet-natured and mature.

The woman of the hour–the scene-stealer–was Zooey Deschanel, who played Kit, Pauline’s roommate. Deschanel was very dismal, grumpy and gothic acting as the roommate, a roommate you would never expect Parker’s character to have.

If you are looking for a simple, light-hearted, spring-like romantic comedy, then “Failure to Launch” is the perfect movie for you. It may not win an Oscar, but it never fails to entertain.