"Failure to Launch" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Failure to Launch (Music from the Motion Picture)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

Can a rom-com soundtrack nudge a commitment-phobe toward adulthood? Here it leans on bright indie/alt-pop and plush lounge textures to smooth hard truths. The retail album collects key needle-drops—upbeat covers, boutique band cuts—while the film itself sprinkles additional cues not on the disc.

The album arrived mid-2006 with 12 tracks and ~42 minutes, while later digital variants trimmed to 9 tracks. The score thread by Rolfe Kent adds breezy bossa-lite pulses and woodwind/vibes colors between songs. Trusted source: AllMusic.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. A CD compilation titled Failure to Launch (Music from the Motion Picture) released July 11, 2006, runtime ~42:24.

Who composed the score?

Rolfe Kent composed the original score used throughout transitions and comic beats.

Who supervised the music and produced the album?

Liza Richardson served as music supervisor; Ralph Sall produced the soundtrack album.

What song opens the movie?

“Not Bad at All” by Steve McDonald plays at the start.

What song plays when Tripp first brings Paula home?

“This Guy’s in Love with You,” performed in-film by Fastball (Bacharach/David song).

What’s the sailing-lesson song?

“Fresh Feeling” by Eels underscores the sail-training sequence.

What song closes the film over the end credits?

Ray Charles’s “Hit the Road, Jack.”

Notes & Trivia

• The physical CD was issued on Bulletproof (catalog 1002), with a UPC ending 01704698432. Trusted source: SoundtrackINFO.
• A later “Edited” digital version (9 tracks) appeared in 2010 under Sall Entertainment.
• Several in-film songs (e.g., Fastball’s Bacharach cover; Eels) were not always present on every retail listing/edition.
• Rolfe Kent received BMI honors in 2006 including work on this film.
• Some cues heard briefly are library/licensed tracks credited on the film’s soundtrack rolls but absent from the retail album.

Genres & Themes

Indie/alt-pop → easy charm. Guitar-led, mid-tempo songs soften prickly character beats and sell reluctant romance without syrup.

Lounge/bossa score → breezy denial. Kent’s light percussion, winds, and vibraphone tilt scenes toward playfulness even when stakes rise.

Classic R&B → comic closure. A standards-era closer (“Hit the Road, Jack”) gives the finale a wink and a nudge—closure with attitude.

Tracks & Scenes

“Not Bad at All” — Steve McDonald
Where it plays: Opening sequence as character world is set up; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Announces the film’s buoyant, slightly ironic tone from the first frames.

“This Guy’s in Love with You” — Fastball
Where it plays: When Tripp first brings Paula home; non-diegetic background.
Why it matters: A classic Bacharach/David confessional used as cheeky counterpoint to a relationship built on a ruse.

“Fresh Feeling” — Eels
Where it plays: Sailing-lesson sequence mid-film; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Airy strings and soft shuffle underline the first genuine thaw between leads.

“Forget My Heart” — Simon Steadman
Where it plays: Rainy boatyard scene after Tripp declares he’s moving out; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Melancholy pop frames his avoidance cracking into vulnerability.

“Hit the Road, Jack” — Ray Charles
Where it plays: End credits as Tripp and Paula sail off; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A playful, on-title goodbye that doubles as a send-off from the parents’ house.

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” — The 88
Where it plays: Featured in the film/album as an upbeat montage cue (exact timestamp varies by release info); non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Rockabilly swing energizes dating/transition beats without heavy exposition.

“More Than a Friend” — All Too Much
Where it plays: Used in the film and collected on the album; non-diegetic scene-transition pop.
Why it matters: Lyrics/feel mirror the story’s step from pretense to attachment.

“Shouldn’t Have Walked Away” — Jamie Dunlap / Scott Nickoley (perf. Molly Pasutti)
Where it plays: Credited source track in the film; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Library-friendly pop that smooths comic cuts while keeping pace spry.

Music–Story Links

Song choices telegraph Tripp’s deflection patterns. Kitsch-sweet pop and lounge cues make his comfortable stasis feel consequence-free—until rain, regret, and “Forget My Heart” puncture the bubble. “Fresh Feeling” signals the stakes tipping from play to feeling. The end-credit R&B tag flips a parent-centric catchphrase into a romantic sail-off. Trusted source: Soundtrack.Net.

How It Was Made

Composer Rolfe Kent supplies the connective tissue—bossa-flavored motifs, hand percussion, and small-ensemble color. Liza Richardson supervised the clearances/placements; Ralph Sall produced the soundtrack album. Score/album credits list Greg Townley (scoring mixer), John Patitucci (bass), and standard music-editor/scoring team roles. Trusted source: Metacritic credits.

Reception & Quotes

Critical response to the film was mixed-to-negative, though several reviewers praised Zooey Deschanel’s comic side-plots. Representative snapshots:

“It’s everything wrong with bad romantic comedies, all rolled into one easy-to-hate package.” David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com

“A romantic comedy in the true sense of the word… the first certified ‘date film’ of the year.” Michael A. Smith, DVDTalk.com

“As listless and phony as Failure to Launch may be, it does have one secret weapon in Zooey Deschanel.” Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

Album availability has remained steady via CD and later digital storefronts. Trusted source: AllMusic.

Additional Info

• Label & spec: Bulletproof CD (catalog 1002), ship date July 11, 2006; approx. 42:24 runtime on AllMusic.
• Digital “Edited” issue (9 tracks, 2010) circulated under Sall Entertainment.
• Some credited in-film songs (e.g., Eels; Fastball’s Bacharach cover) were not always on early retail listings.
• Opening cue identification (“Not Bad at All”) and rainy-scene placement (“Forget My Heart”) are documented by soundtrack Q&A archives.
• End-title use of “Hit the Road, Jack” is stated in film summaries/credits.
• Composer recognition: Rolfe Kent was among BMI-honored composers the year of release.

Technical Info

• Title: Failure to Launch (Music from the Motion Picture)
• Year: 2006 (film); soundtrack CD July 11, 2006
• Type: Various-artists compilation + original score cues
• Composer (score): Rolfe Kent
• Music supervision: Liza Richardson
• Soundtrack album producer: Ralph Sall
• Selected notable placements: “Not Bad at All” (opening); “This Guy’s in Love with You” (bringing Paula home); “Fresh Feeling” (sailing lesson); “Forget My Heart” (rain/boatyard); “Hit the Road, Jack” (end credits)
• Label / catalog: Bulletproof — BP 1002 (CD)
• Album runtime: ~42:24 (CD master)
• Digital variants: 2010 “Edited” 9-track issue

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: AllMusic; SoundtrackINFO; Soundtrack.Net; Metacritic credits; Wikipedia (film page); Ringostrack; Rotten Tomatoes (review excerpts).

November, 09th 2025