The Odd Couple (1968)

“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

Number of Times Seen – at least 5 times  (cable, video and 9 Feb 2014)

Brief Synopsis – Two recently divorced friends who are complete opposites decide to live together despite their differences.

My Take on it – This was only teh second collaboration of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, but since they ended up making so many movies together throughout the years, it’s hard not to see the chemistry between them even at this early stage of those said collaborations.

Neil Simon is a great and funny writer and wrote this one extremely well.

Having gone through a divorce myself 7 years ago, I could relate with many of the situations that Oscar and Felix had to deal with here;  going back to living with a roommate, finding a way to pay alimony and cover my own expenses and trying to find a way to start dating again were all relevant for me. (No I NEVER contemplated suicide, not even in a comical manner)

My own personal parallels made this viewing more enjoyable for me (and also in some ways more uncomfortable for me at the same time).

This movie though unfortunately doesn’t age very well.  😦

Bottom Line – A very funny Neil Simon adaptation.  Matthau and Lemmon are amazing here.  Seems a bit dated tho.  Recommended!

Rating – Globe Worthy

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