By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The 35-year-old heartthrob jock Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) would seem to be quite a catch. There's just one hitch: He still lives with his folks. And once that fact emerges, the ladies he's dating take to their heels in no time flat, allowing Tripp to evade commitment one more time.

That's all about to change when Tripp's parents, Sue (Kathy Bates) and Al (Terry Bradshaw), hire professional "intervention" consultant Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to engineer a "chance" meeting with their son, and skillfully engender a sense of independence in Tripp, so that the pampered son will move out, giving them some elbow room. All this can be done, Paula promises, without even resorting to sex.

Such is the premise of "Failure to Launch" (Paramount), an uneven but oddly likable romantic comedy.

Tripp isn't the only one lodging with his folks well past the usual time. His buddies, Ace (Justin Bartha) and Demo (Bradley Cooper), have the same blissful lives of Riley.

As for Paula, she has a sarcastic roommate named Kit (Zooey Deschanel), a morose oddball driven crazy by the incessant sounds of a mockingbird outside her window. This is one of several tangential plot elements that add an endearing -- or strange -- quirkiness to the tale, depending on your point of view. Another involves Tripp, who it seems is "at odds with the natural world" and can't help being bitten by any creature he encounters: chipmunk, lizard or dolphin.

Paula's time-honored methods seem to be proceeding smoothly, but soon hit two big snags. First, she genuinely falls for the guy. Second, he fears she's getting serious, and moves into standard mode to cut her loose.

All sorts of romantic complications ensue, especially when Tripp's buddies discover Paula's true intent.

The overall tone is pleasantly amusing, rather than fall-about funny. Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember's script takes some peculiar turns. Early on, we learn that Tripp has a young nephew to whom he's devoted, and when we finally learn how it is that the cute African-American youngster can be related to Tripp, the reason is improbable to put it mildly.

Plot incongruities aside, director Tom Dey skillfully maintains an overall spirited pace.

There are some pleasing performances, with Parker at her most ingratiating, and Bates and Bradshaw a remarkably plausible pair. McConaughey doesn't radiate much charm above and beyond his well-chiseled looks, though perhaps some blame is attributable to the script, which keeps his character unyielding far too long. Deschanel, Bartha and Cooper provide variety as the cronies.

As Tripp works at the marina and enjoys the great outdoors, there are some eye-filling sylvan and aquatic settings all nicely photographed by Claudio Miranda.

Tripp is, as noted, an inveterate womanizer till Paula comes along, and predictably Paula finds herself breaking her no-sex rule when the situation requires "extreme" measures. And for a breezy lightweight romance, there are a few too many casually uttered expletives. Also, the unconventional Al is an eccentric who wants nothing more than a "naked room" where he can walk around au naturel (there are a couple of brief rearview shots of Bradshaw here).

Ultimately, the story is resolved in a moral way, and the film overall conveys a good message. You may find this an amusing spin -- with a surprisingly serious underpinning -- on a current phenomenon that's been dubbed "adultescence," provided you're willing to overlook those aforementioned disagreeable elements.

The film contains profanity, rough and crude language and expressions, implied sexual situations and banter, and a comic instance of rear male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.