Failure to Launch DVD Review (Matthew McConaughey) Empire Movies

FAILURE TO LAUNCH DVD REVIEW

Failure to Launch (Special Collector's Edition)
(Paramount Home Entertainment)

The Movie

The Extras

Reviewed by

7/10

Liam

Failure to Launch stars Matthew McConaughey as Tripp, a thirty something guy who still lives with his parents (Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates). They do his laundry. They cook his meals. He still sleeps in the same bed sheets he slept in as a child. Basically, he's got it pretty damn good in my books. So one day, his parents are at a neighborhood BBQ when they begin discussing their "predicament" with some other parents. It is here they learn about this woman they can hire to "simulate a relationship" with their son. In doing so, she will help him transition from living at home to moving out and living his own (more independent) life. Once this is done, she'll break up with him but by this point he'll have moved out. Problem solved. Enter Sarah Jessica Parker as Paula, the woman they hire to take care of their "problem". At first, things go swimmingly. But when Tripp catches wind of his parents' scheme, thing turn sour. And things go from bad to worse when Paula realizes she has fallen for Tripp.

I saw this movie when it came to theaters and thought it was a cute little romantic comedy. Watching it on DVD I thought pretty much the same thing. There were a few genuine laughs and it was generally a pretty sweet movie. Yeah, there were parts that made me roll my eyes but if you're a guy and you're looking to spend some quality time with your girlfriend, there are worse things you could do than watch this movie. I've gotta add that I'm not a huge fan of either McConaughey or SJP, but watching this movie was made that much more bearable by the presence of the films supporting cast including Bradshaw (although I saw a little bit more of his naked ass than I really cared to) and especially co-stars Justin Bartha (who I find genuinely funny) and Zooey Deschanel (who I'm falling more in love with every movie she makes). For those still suffering from Kathy Bates' "appearance" in About Schmidt, you needn't worry - she doesn't flash any skin this time around.

Special features on this DVD begin with an 11-minute making-of featurette complete with your standard cast and crew interviews. From here, we get an 11-minute featurette on the "Failure to Launch" phenomenon including interviews with real thirty-somethings who haven't moved out of their homes, their parents and some Ph.D's about the whole thing. My question? What about all the ladies who still live at home? Don't they exist? Next, "Dating in the New Millennium" talks about meeting men and women in the current day and age and specifically deals with online or internet dating. This is followed by a "Moviefone Unscripted" feature with Matthew McConaughey and Terry Bradshaw where they ask each other questions posed by fans through Moviefone. Finally, there's the "Failure to Launch Contest" where we hear from 3 MySpace.com contest winners playing for the opportunity to get booted out of their homes and win 6 months free rent. Some funny stuff here, and there is actually a woman competing!

Like I said, this isn't such a bad movie. Yeah, it's pure fluff, but it might earn you points with your girlfriend for putting in the time, so is that really such a price to pay? Also, if you're a parent having trouble giving your kids the boot, you might get a pointer or two here. So I guess you could call this movie "fun for the whole family"!

Features
Casting Off: The Making of Failure to Launch
The Failure to Launch Phenomenon
Dating in the New Millennium
Moviefone.com Unscripted with Matthew McConaughey and Terry Bradshaw
The Failure to Launch Contest
Theatrical Trailer

Video
Widescreen

Audio
Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround
Dolby Digital English 2.0 Surround
Dolby Digital French 5.1 Surround

Subtitles
English
Spanish
Closed-Captioned

Release Date
June 27, 2006

Rating
PG-13

Length
96 mins.

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