Certain Mini's and Air's are pretty darned tempermental. I haven't come across a MBP yet that wouldn't boot from a retail disc.
Edit: Ok. I lie. 2010 Sandy Bridge and up won't boot from a retail SL disk because the newest retail was 10.6.3 and they require 10.6.6 or better. So in looking at the OP's model (02/2011 release 13") the SL retail disc is off the table.
Flash drive install or target disc from a newer Mac