Movie Review: Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey, is a fun, light-hearted movie about a guy who lives with his parents. As somebody in that situation, I was concerned how he would be portrayed, and was relieved that he was seen as likeable fellow. Yes, there’s a stigma, but it seems to be a benign stigma. The movie points out that sometimes the parents also benefit in the form of relational or economic support. I’ve heard that in Latin America a lot of people live at home out of economic necessity. In these days of high credit card debt and increased home foreclosures, there might be something to be said for this type of arrangement. Tripp, the guy in this movie, is quite pampered at first—his mom makes him pancakes for breakfast—but takes on more responsibility as the film goes on. The supporting cast is hilarious, the dates are creative, and I especially enjoyed the motif of the harmless animals. A great romantic comedy!