FAILURE TO LAUNCH

US, 2006, 97 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Mc Mc Conaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Terry Bradshaw, Kathy Bates.
Directed by Tom Dey.

The title is a phrase to denote that the son has not left the family nest, even if he has a good job and is in his mid-30s. He is still there with his parents – and they really want him to launch.

Matthew Mc Conaughey is the breezy boat salesman who finds that his devoted parents look after him so well that there is no reason for him to go elsewhere. He has two slacker-like friends who seem to be in a similar unlaunched situation and encourage him. Meanwhile his parents hear from friends that there is a woman who has a system to make all systems go – from home. They hire her – and, of course, you know what happens. But, not without some romantic interludes along the way before disaster occurs. He finds out. Will they, won’t they? And what are parents for, and friends, except to bring to star-crossed lovers together.

On that slender but light plot, Failure to Launch builds a pleasant romantic comedy. Matthew Mc Conaughey gives his performance yet again. Sarah Jessica Parker (recuperating after being the hate-object of everyone in The Family Stone) walks supremely confident through her system – until she falls in love. Clearly, she and he have to do a lot of re-thinking about their life-styles and their values before the happy ending. Kathy Bates is the mother and Terry Bradshaw is the interestingly unconventional father.

Despite all the critical jokes about the film based on its title, it did take off and has proven popular.

1.Popular romantic comedy? Variation on a theme? The appeal? Audience age?

2.Authentic situations: homes, bars and restaurants, gymnasiums, on the sea, sports and outdoors, apartments? lifestyle? Musical score, songs?

3.The title and the indication of theme, men living at home with their parents into their 30s, the parents going on to the internet to find a headhunter to get them out? The girlfriend?

4.Tripp and his story, mid-30s, his job selling lots, his friends, their life together, discussions together about life, the film opening with his date, and at home,? his father coming in, the girl going, parents making a commentary? His technique for getting rid of girlfriends who want to take him seriously? The comfortable life with his parents – meals, the washing done? The situation with his parents, more desperate that he leave?

5.The parents, their manner, attitude towards their son? Knowing what he was doing with the girls? At the party, discussion with their friends, the information about Paula?

6.Tripp with Ace and Demo? Their activities, sports, mountain climbing? The different lifestyles? Ace and his being awkward, letting Tripp fall off the fountain? Their attitude towards women, dating? Their lifestyles? Ace and his work, his computer genius? In the basement – the revelation later that he had bought his apartment from his parents? Demo and his travelling the world, a certain independence from his parents even though his parents’ home was his base? Their being with Tripp, getting a shock when his mother wanted him to do things for himself?

7 The parents meeting with Paula, her methods, he guaranteeing that he would be out? Her arrival with Tripp, the parents’ shock, the meal? The irony of Ace seeing Paula in the restaurant with another client? His blackmailing her to get a date with Kit? His telling Demo, Demo telling Tripp? Tripp and his setting up the meal, his revelation of the truth, his anger?The blow up?

8.Tripp and Paula together, the various dates, going out, the plan, the various steps, her checking things with Kit? On the yacht and her quick thinking with the owner, trying to sell it? The day of learning something from Tripp? The bonding? Going home, the meal, his discerning the look in her eye, her staying the night? The revelation of the truth, blow up? Their antagonism towards each other? The effect on each, his missing her while angry? Her feeling bad and wanting to go back to Colorado? Her discussions with Kit?

9.Paula and Kit, showing the apartment, Kit’s style, life? Paula’s bluff talk about her inability to relate? The deals? Kit and Ace, her shutting the door, changing her mind, the relationship? Going out? Paula catching Kit and Ace at the apartment?

10.The good planning to bring the couple together again, Tripp’s parents, Kit, the date, tying Tripp up in the cupboard, Paula finding him, the plaster over his mouth? Untying him? Their talk? The camera and everybody watching? The nephew – and the background story of Tripp’s relationship with the boy’s mother, her death, her looking after the boy, taking him to sports, his advice? His watching the television with Tripp’s parents? Everybody in the restaurant applauding?

11.The portrait of the parents, Tripp out of the house, changing the house, the father taking over Tripp’s room, his naked room, his discussion with his son? His mother and her fears that her mother would not like her after all the years? Tripp reassuring her?

12.Tripp’s finally being launched, out of the house, with Paula and a happy ever after?