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Failure to Launch (2006)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 148
Fresh: 37 | Rotten: 111

The few comic gags sprinkled throughout the movie fail to spice up this formulaic rom-com.

Average Rating: 5.1/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 21

The few comic gags sprinkled throughout the movie fail to spice up this formulaic rom-com.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 414,851

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Movie Info

A overgrown mama's boy who hasn't found the courage to take flight from the nest gets a little help from the girl of his dreams in the one comedy that proves it's never to late to strike out on your own. Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) may have hit 30, but that doesn't mean that he's ready to give up the many benefits of living at home with mom (Kathy Bates) and dad (Terry Bradshaw). His desperate parents have had enough, though, and after years of gentle nudging they soon realize that it's going to

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Tom Dey

Written By: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember

In Theaters: Mar 10, 2006 Wide

On DVD: Jun 27, 2006

Box Office:$88.7M

Paramount Pictures

Failure to Launch Trailer & Photos

More Photos (26)

Cast

Critic Reviews for Failure to Launch

All Critics (155) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (114) | DVD (26)

The movie's notion of humor is exemplified by Bradshaw's extended nude scene.

December 18, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

As listless and phony as Failure to Launch may be, it does have one secret weapon in Zooey Deschanel.

October 7, 2006 Full Review Source: Salon.com

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Stephanie Zacharek

Salon.com

Top Critic

How, exactly, did an idea with this much star power and comic potential manage to misfire?

March 18, 2006 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Top Critic

It's completely unbelievable.

March 16, 2006 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

| Comment

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

This is a showcase for her [Parker's] sensitive intelligence, her watchfulness, and her way of thinking and reacting. The Family Stone did nothing for Parker, but Failure to Launch makes a strong case for life after Sex and the City.

March 10, 2006 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Apart from its name (easily the front-runner for worst of the year), Failure to Launch represents a failure in every way: of ideas, of inspiration, of casting.

March 10, 2006 Comment

Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Critic

It's not funny. It is occasionally witty, but not very often. It seems the filmmakers realized that as well as they fill the frequent dry spells with physical comedy that doesn't really fit the tone of the movie.

March 22, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net

| Comment

Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

A limp romantic comedy, this cut-and-paste bookend to last year's "Hitch" finds Sarah Jessica Parker playing Paula a demoralized romantic turned "professional interventionist."

April 20, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Formulaic romantic comedy about a stuck-in-adolescence man.

July 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

A wacky, well-crafted romantic comedy which unfolds like a cross between Hitch and Meet the Parents.

June 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Beachcomber

| Comment

Kam Williams

Beachcomber

Failure to Launch? The same can be said for the movie.

May 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine)

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Christopher Smith

Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Zooey Deschanel steals so many scenes as Paula's anti-social roommate that she deserves to share top billing alongside McConaughey and Parker.

April 19, 2007 Full Review Source: BlackFilm.com

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Kam Williams

BlackFilm.com

You can positively smell the filmmakers' misguidedly intent resolution to turn this flick into something that will appeal to 12-year-old boys as well as its targeted chicks.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

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David Noh

Film Journal International

It's everything wrong with bad romantic comedies, all rolled into one easy-to-hate package.

February 24, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

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David Cornelius

eFilmCritic.com

A romantic comedy in the true sense of the word, "Failure to Launch" is the first certified "date film" of the year.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

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Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

The multiple contrivances and the inevitable grinding of the storytelling gears will have you itching to go home -- whether you happen to live with your parents or not.

September 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Christianity Today

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Peter T. Chattaway

Christianity Today Source: Christianity Today

i just hated every single character soooo much

August 13, 2006 Comment

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

sbs.is

...an amiable and entertaining (albeit entirely forgettable) piece of work.

July 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Failure to Launch

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Failure to Launch is yet another romantic comedy that relies far too much on the usual clich�s you'd expect from the countless romantic comedies out there. Everything you'd expect from a romantic comedy is present, and that's not a good thing. Failure to Launch is a mess from start to finish. There are a few mildly

December 17, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Great movie. Somehow Matthew McConaughey always seems to play the weird put funny parts. "Your naked" "this is my naked room". Terry Bradshaw was also hillarious in his naked room scene. Just a great movie! Sarah Jessica Parker & the rest of the cast were amazing too and who could forget about the mocking bird that drove Kit crazy :) :) :)

January 27, 2008

Cassie Hill

Super Reviewer

Failure to Launch Quotes

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1. Al: [Sitting naked together in a recliner, singing] Hit the road, 'Tripp', and don't ya come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
– Submitted by Hanna K (10 months ago)
1. Kit: What the hell kind of devil bird chirps at night.
– Submitted by Henrique T (12 months ago)