Over the past few years, the perennial sit-coms that sprout in spring have become so identikit and formulaic that at times it’s impossible to tell which one you’re actually watching. Thus we have Failure To Launch, which comes along to fill the slot recently occupied by Along Came Polly, Meet The Fockers and countless others — the difference being that this one’s just a tad sharper and sassier than most.
Where it succeeds is in a quirky, eccentric supporting cast who look like they’re genuinely enjoying themselves — leaving the blander headline stars to play out the all-too-predictable romance bit. Deschanel is a delight as Parker’s kooky roommate, who’s plagued by a mockingbird that’s as rooted to the tree outside her window as McConaughey’s protagonist is to his parents’ home. And, as Tripp’s long-suffering folks, Bates and Bradshaw make for an appealing double-act.
Its main stumbling block, however, is McConaughey himself, who doesn’t come across as a natural comedian — at times you find yourself wishing for Owen Wilson. But the film’s uneven first half soon gives way to a likeable enough comedy which, while ultimately forgettable, fulfils its potential as acceptable date movie fare.