Failure to Launch

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2:23

Failure to Launch

PG-13

2006

1h 36m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

23%

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150 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A young man (Matthew McConaughey) continues to live at the home of parents who, in desperation to push him out of the nest once and for all, hatch a plan. They hire a beautiful woman (Sarah Jessica Parker) to entice him to assume the mantle of responsibility and get his own place.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Tim Grierson

Screen International

Jul 23, 2008

Verging on the preposterous, director Tom Dey's Failure To Launch relies on attractive stars to overcome its lackluster execution.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Dec 18, 2006

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

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Stephanie Zacharek

Salon.com

Oct 7, 2006

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

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Sep 11, 2020

2/5

A strange idea for a romantic comedy results in quite a strange film. Not much to like about the main plot, but some fun to be had on the fringes.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 7, 2020

1.0/4.0

It's a comedy of errors.

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Feb 12, 2020

A very weak film in which very few things are good. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Marco L

@decatur555 4 days ago

A typical mid-2000s romantic comedy, and I mean that both as criticism and as part of its charm. Matthew McConaughey is firmly in his easygoing leading-man phase, Sarah Jessica Parker fits the setup, and the whole thing is so predictable you can almost see the ending from the poster. The premise — parents hiring a woman to push their grown son out of the house — is ridiculous if taken seriously, but works well enough as a comedy device. The central romance is never irresistible and some animal gags have aged badly, but the supporting cast helps: Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw are fun, and Zooey Deschanel steals several scenes. It is formulaic, light and very much of its era, with all the misunderstandings, revelations and reconciliations you expect. Not one of the great romantic comedies of its generation, but not the disaster some critics suggested either. Pleasant, familiar and nostalgic: the kind of film that knows exactly where it is going and still gets you there comfortably.

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Juan M

@Juanesc Jul 29, 2026

A real RomCom and I enjoyed it!

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Greg R

@itsgregsworld Jul 14, 2026

The first word in the title should have been my clue.

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Noah H.

@Noah85 Jun 13, 2026

Really funny! Probably my favorite Matthew McConaughey movie so far, and MAN was Sarah Jessica Parker hot in this. I really enjoyed the message about choosing your own path in life, and it had plenty of funny moments. The chemistry between the characters worked really well, and the movie had a surprisingly nice message underneath all the comedy. All right, I give Failure to Launch a 10 out of 10.

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Dominica B.

@Dominica Apr 18, 2026

Fun fun fun!! Terry Bradshaw steals the show!

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Ben R.

@b_roland Dec 28, 2025

Matthew McConaughey can’t miss

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Tom Dey

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Tripp

Sarah Jessica Parker

Paula

Zooey Deschanel

Kit

Justin Bartha

Ace

Bradley Cooper

Demo

Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Emotional Crisis Stage

1:37

Now Playing

Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Paula's Pitch

1:51

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Vicious Chipmunk

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Tripp Exposes the Plan

1:43

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - To Kill A Mockingbird

1:45

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Kit's Apology

0:49

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Paula Stays Over

2:04

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - When Dolphins Attack

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Real Feelings

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Failure to Launch: Official Clip - Fall Guy

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Failure to Launch: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A young man (Matthew McConaughey) continues to live at the home of parents who, in desperation to push him out of the nest once and for all, hatch a plan. They hire a beautiful woman (Sarah Jessica Parker) to entice him to assume the mantle of responsibility and get his own place.

Director: Tom Dey
Producer: Scott Rudin, Scott Aversano
Screenwriter: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember
Production Co: Paramount, Scott Rudin Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $88.7M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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