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The Odd Couple (1968)
The Odd Couple
Director:Gene Saks
DVD Cover
Director:Gene Saks
Writer:Neil Simon
Starring:Walter Matthau,Jack Lemmon,John Fielder,Monica Evans, Carole Shelley
Length:105 Mins
"I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!"-Oscar Madison
The plot of Neil Simon's comedy classic The Odd Couple is deceptively basic, two polar opposites are forced to share an apartment and laughter ensues. Genius comes when you take something simple and everyday and makes it more than the sum of its parts.
"Da dat da daaa, dada da dat da da da", The film opens with the now famous theme music, Felix Unger (Jack Lemmon) is suicidal after the disintegration of his long term marriage. He’s a neurotic neat freak and obsessive provider, alone walking the streets in a world he no longer understands.
“I know him. He's too nervous to kill himself. Wears his seat belt in a drive-in movie.”
Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau) is a happily divorced, unhygienic, toxin filled sports announcer. He’s an irresponsible, loud mouthed slob, the kind of guy who sneezes on his sleeve and then wipes his nose on his shirt.
“His refrigerator has been out of order for two weeks now. I saw milk standing in there that wasn't even in the bottle!”
The two move in together and as they say, the rest is cinematic history.
John Doe says: (9/10)
The Odd Couple always manages to make me laugh till it hurts, no matter how many times I see it.
Reworked numerous times since, but never so effectively, the secret is that the intelligent script is equal parts scathing observational tragedy and witty spirited comedy.
Based on his stage play, Neil Simon’s (Biloxi Blues, Prisoner of Second Ave, Murder by Death) dialogue is overflowing with witty repartee, but you don’t need to look to deep to spot the underlying social commentary that laces every scene.
The performances are just as enjoyable to watch and I spot something new with each screening, the chemistry between all the cast is exceptional. (Escpecially when the boys are around the poker table and the cuckoo pigeon sisters)
Walter Matthau (Charley Varrick, Fail Safe, HopScotch) and Jack Lemmon (The Apartment, Glengarry Glen Ross, Save The Tiger) live up to their reputations as one of the all time great comedy duos, they are Felix and Oscar.
If the film has a fault its that the cinematography sometimes reminds your watching a film based on a stage play, but that wont stop you chuckling at the snappy dialogue exchanges. Or pondering the context beneath the surface of the humour and enjoying the examination of these flawed characters defining traits.
The DVD:
5.1 And Widescreen it’s a goddamn travesty that this classic film that spawned a TV show and numerous play house revivals is extras free. Could be worse, could’ve been a ratty pan n scan mono transfer I suppose.
Starring:Walter Matthau,Jack Lemmon,John Fielder,Monica Evans, Carole Shelley
"I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!"-Oscar Madison
The plot of Neil Simon's comedy classic The Odd Couple is deceptively basic, two polar opposites are forced to share an apartment and laughter ensues. Genius comes when you take something simple and everyday and makes it more than the sum of its parts.
"Da dat da daaa, dada da dat da da da", The film opens with the now famous theme music, Felix Unger (Jack Lemmon) is suicidal after the disintegration of his long term marriage. He’s a neurotic neat freak and obsessive provider, alone walking the streets in a world he no longer understands.
“I know him. He's too nervous to kill himself. Wears his seat belt in a drive-in movie.”
Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau) is a happily divorced, unhygienic, toxin filled sports announcer. He’s an irresponsible, loud mouthed slob, the kind of guy who sneezes on his sleeve and then wipes his nose on his shirt.
The two move in together and as they say, the rest is cinematic history.
John Doe says: (9/10)
The Odd Couple always manages to make me laugh till it hurts, no matter how many times I see it.
Reworked numerous times since, but never so effectively, the secret is that the intelligent script is equal parts scathing observational tragedy and witty spirited comedy.
Based on his stage play, Neil Simon’s (Biloxi Blues, Prisoner of Second Ave, Murder by Death) dialogue is overflowing with witty repartee, but you don’t need to look to deep to spot the underlying social commentary that laces every scene.
The performances are just as enjoyable to watch and I spot something new with each screening, the chemistry between all the cast is exceptional. (Escpecially when the boys are around the poker table and the cuckoo pigeon sisters)
Walter Matthau (Charley Varrick, Fail Safe, HopScotch) and Jack Lemmon (The Apartment, Glengarry Glen Ross, Save The Tiger) live up to their reputations as one of the all time great comedy duos, they are Felix and Oscar.
If the film has a fault its that the cinematography sometimes reminds your watching a film based on a stage play, but that wont stop you chuckling at the snappy dialogue exchanges. Or pondering the context beneath the surface of the humour and enjoying the examination of these flawed characters defining traits.
The DVD:
5.1 And Widescreen it’s a goddamn travesty that this classic film that spawned a TV show and numerous play house revivals is extras free. Could be worse, could’ve been a ratty pan n scan mono transfer I suppose.
"Dont point that finger at me unless you intend to use it"
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The basic concept has been reworked and used repeatedly since in a number of movies and TV shows.