A wise comedian named Gallagher once said, “When a woman sees stupid in the world, it’s usually a man doing it.”

As obtrusive and offensive as this quote is, there are many people in this world – this writer included – who are willing to admit the truth of the statement.

The good folks at Paramount Pictures, who brought us “Failure to Launch,” a film about the American male’s tendency to strive unendingly towards a simple life of random acts of ape-like amusement, are in that number.

Opening with a casual date scene of Trip (played by Matthew McConaughey) and his girlfriend of the week, we are introduced to a man who plays his cards right and woos the heart of the young miss on screen – as well as those in the audience – with sly glances, an award-winning smile, etc.

But the infatuation quickly goes south when he brings her home, and she discovers (quite embarrassingly) that he still lives with his parents … at the age of thirty-five. Thus the term “failure to launch.”

Though his parents, played by Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates, both love and adore their son, they can’t stand to see him throw away his life and live as a sheltered hatchling forever.

Enter Paula, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been hired by Trip’s parents to seduce Trip into a mature relationship, thus leading him into maturity itself and a house of his own.

McConaughey’s childish character, and his dorkier, sketchier friends add to the humor with outlandish slapstick comedy that is only possible in movie, such as getting bitten by a dolphin, or getting randomly shot in the foot point-blank by a paintball gun.

Going on the idea of polarity, the women play the opposite role from the goofy men. Parker and her roommate take the approach that men are not only stupid, but easily-manipulated, childish, dependant and, above all, predictable.

As true as that may be, it does get offensive at times. The male characters’ failure to add intelligence becomes a bit dull, and at times, audience members might want to smack McConaughey upside the head once or twice.

But the same can be said about Parker, whose completely boorish denial of any emotion whatsoever is nothing short of annoying and certainly predictable in its own right. No one went into this film thinking, “I wonder if they fall in love at the end.”

Where the movie comes up short is in its failure to break from the mold. Paying good money to see the same scenario over and over is dull and depressing, even if the idea behind the film is fun. Some romantic comedies have proven themselves unique, or at least thoughtful in their theme.

But this film simply matched “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days” with “Sex and the City.” As far as expectations – keep them low, and don’t plan on remembering this as pinnacle of the over-played romantic-comedy genre.

Still, it has its perks. True to the art of romantic comedy, “Failure to Launch” has its moments of both humor and drama, but more of the former than the latter.

His character might be stupid, but honestly, it’s Matthew McConaughey. A perfect smile and good-old-boy charm are more than enough to demand forgiveness, even if he lives with his parents.

Colin Lacy can be reached at [email protected].