so I know I'll go see it. My system hasn't falied me yet!

She's like a clueless inverted barometer for enjoyable film.

Only because I've already planned to for the following reasons. I find Sarah Jessica Parker luminous. (I was going to use that adjective before I saw it in your review, Steph),and two, I recently saw Matthew McConaughey on an Ophrah interview and whoa! I loved him.

He described Penelope Cruz as "pure", which struck me as much as my recent boyfriend's description of himself as "melancholy". It's not something you hear everyday coming from a man's mouth and when you do, you know there is much, much treasure to be discovered there.

So there you are. A recipe for enjoyment. Two lead actors that I like. All I need is dark chocolate, a huge popcorn and coke, and I'll have fun. I'm curious to see your take on The Libertine, Johnny Depp's newest -- but I'll go see it no matter what.

I couldn't agree more about Zooey Deschanel. Add "Elf" to the list of movies that would be unendurable without her.

But the likability thing never worked on "Sex and the City" she was pretty much throughly unlikeable and not in any interesting way. I gotta say I'm forced to watch worse shows (hello, "everybody love Raymond")by my wonderful wife, but I can't believe I seen like every episode more than once. Fuck's sake.

McCoungahey, I can't see without thinking of his classic bit in "Dazed and Confused" and laughing. Anyone think Witterson still lived with his parents? Probably not.

Can someone please explain to me why Will Ferrel has a career?? I watched "Ron Burgundy" the other day and was simply stunned: Here was a well-written, well-directed and well-acted comedy brimming with great comic actors, and Farrel managed to suck the life out of every scene. He was like a black hole of comedy: Nothing escapes, not even laughs.

I am sorry the reviewer doesn't like Matthew McConaughey because he's too "self-satisfied" (read "comfortable in his own skin"). Oh, and he smiles too much. Because who doesn't want a soulful, tortured romantic comedy lead ?

If I had McConaughey's life, I'd be smiling too. Also, isn't this the same reviewer who was singing Vin Diesel's praises a while back ? I guess there's no accounting for taste.

I dragged my husband to the theatre to see Failure to Launch this weekend. Dragged him because he does not like Ms. Parker overmuch, at least not in her role as Carrie Bradshaw, and because he already has to listen to me talk about Matthew McConaughey and how he should leave Penelope Cruz for me. He was thoroughly prepared to hate this movie, but to suffer it anyway for the love of his wife.

I snuck a few looks at him periodically to gauge his reaction. He laughed. A lot. And rightly so, because it was a funny, sweet movie with more than a few memorable scenes.

Are there problems with the plot? Yup. Is it a probable storyline? Nope. Do I care? Not at all. McConaughey brings considerable charm and a whole lot of fun to the table, and Zooey Deschanel steals the movie as Paula's quirky roommate. I've paid ten bucks and gotten a whole lot less.

Sorry you didn't like this one, Ms. Zacharek. Not all actors have the whimsy and comedic talent of, say, Jack Black or Spongebob Squarepants. (School of Rock. SpongeBob Squarepants: The movie. THESE movies you liked.) I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on what's funny and what's not.

Great write-up. I can't believe reviews, negative as they've generally been for this, haven't been worse. I'm all for a fun, fluffy romantic comedy, but this stuff was horrible - somebody should tell the screenwriters that saying a sentence in a sarcastic tone does not automatically render it funny. And what's with the wacky animal hijinks?

Stephanie, your reviews are always a great read, even on the relatively rare occasions I disagree with you!

It seems that, nowadays, some women reviewers feel obligated to play the offended ultra-feminist. Instead they come off as jealous, snippy shrews! The fact that Parker plays a uber cynic whose "career" is based on deceit and that she uses men as much as Trip uses women is conveniently overlooked. Too many reveiwers, of both genders, take themselves too seriously. Lighten up! Enjoy a light, silly comedy for the fun of it.