Neil Simon hit it out of the park with "The Odd Couple". It was a very successful Broadway play, a very popular film as well as a long- running (and often imitated) TV series. But for all you folks that are only familiar with the TV versions, the play and movie were very different. While they're all comedies, the play and film were very dark...little like the TV program. The TV show never would tackle issues like suicide and Oscar would never come to a point where he contemplates murdering Felix!!

The film begins with Felix (Jack Lemmon) wandering about New York City is a daze. His wife, sick of his incredibly neurotic and irritating behavior has finally tossed him out...and Felix doesn't know what to do with himself. He eventually wanders over to the pig sty where Oscar lives and his poker buddies all just heard about what's happened with Felix...and they are worried he might harm himself. So Oscar asks Felix to stay with him. After all, Felix is a neat freak and Oscar a total slob...and perhaps they could help each other! Well, easier said than done, as Felix is so annoying that instead of helping Oscar, he might just help push Oscar over the edge! How's it all going to end? See the film.

As I sad, this film is dark. In the TV show, no matter how angry Oscar got at Felix, you know that down deep they love each other. Here, however, you think that perhaps THIS Oscar (Walter Matthau) might just kill Felix! Overall, a very good film but one that will appeal to a different sort of audience than the TV show...a more adult one that doesn't mind exploring this dark side.

The Odd Couple made its debut on Broadway in 1965 and ran for 964 performances for the 1965-67 season. On Broadway it starred Art Carney and Walter Matthau. As Matthau had both won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Oscar Madison and was also just off an Oscar for The Fortune Cookie, he was a sure bet to be asked to repeat his role. But in The Fortune Cookie the teaming of Jack Lemmon with Walter Matthau won audience and critical raves so it was almost dictated by the movie-going public that they co-star in The Odd Couple.

What was started in The Fortune Cookie was made permanent with The Odd Couple. Lemmon and Matthau became possibly the last great male buddy team in screen history. Their impeccable timing and chemistry is what makes The Odd Couple the classic film it has become. I'm not sure who gets more laughs, Lemmon with his fuss budget ways or Matthau who became the greatest slob in movie history. When I see my messy apartment I always think of Matthau and Jack Klugman from the television series.

Paramount had the foresight to hire Neil Simon to do a screenplay adaption of his play for which he also won a Tony Award. Simon is one of the great chroniclers of life in New York and he hit his artistic peak here. Sad to say the Motion Picture Academy only gave The Odd Couple two Oscar nominations for Film Editing and for Neil Simon's screenplay of material adapted from another source, even if the source is himself. What I cannot understand is how they overlooked Neal Hefti's classic theme which became more widely known in the television series. It's one of the best known and loved film musical themes.

With the television series, two Broadway revivals and numerous repertoire companies performing this all over the world, The Odd Couple has become a cottage industry. Personally I'd like to see a gay version done of this play, the material would lend itself so well.

Nothing more, nothing less, The Odd Couple is as perfect an example of stage and film comedy as you can get.

Felix Ungar (Jack Lemmon) is despondent after his wife left him. He even fails in his suicide attempts. He moves in with his divorced sportswriter friend Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau). Felix is a neat freak and Oscar is a slob. They don't make the best roommate. They are the odd couple. Oscar convinces Felix to go on a double date with the Pigeon sisters. It doesn't go the way Oscar wants which only makes the living situation worst than ever.

Jack Lemmon is terrific. His sinus problem is hilarious. The couple has great combative chemistry together. They are some great lines from Neil Simon. The Pigeon sisters send it over the top. In the end, this is the two guys' performances that make it so great.