Review of The Odd Couple (1968) by Philip S — 17 Aug 2011

The Odd Couple is hands down, among the funniest, and most timeless movies in the history of Hollywood. It's a movie that every audience can relate to, whether they be young or old. Who out there hasn't had a roommate the likes of Felix or Oscar? It doesn't matter if it took place during college or years later. Everybody's been flung into just such a situation. Heck, Felix and Oscar's situation even happens with married couples every day across the country (if not the world). And that being the case, there's not a minute that audiences won't laugh throughout the movie.

It's tough to call one scene or another the funniest in this laugh-a-minute story. But one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie is the now infamous scene where Felix and Oscar are out at a restaurant, and Felix starts making a god awful noise. It's tough to put into writing, but imagine someone yelling fnuh! fnuh fnuh fnuh! Yes, it sounds outrageous doesn't it? Again, that's what makes the scene so incredible. It's absolutely hilarious. Felix claims it has to do with the air pressure or some such in the diner. It makes everyone else in the diner stop and stare. Oscar's reaction is classic. His facial motions alone are enough to illicit nonstop laughs. Want more? There's plenty more. There's the poker scene in which Felix cooks for Oscar's friends, and their reactions to it. There's also the scene in which Felix is making dinner for the crazy cuckoo sisters, and what happens. The list could go on and on. Again, there's not one scene in the movie that's not funny. It's next to impossible to think of one particular aspect of the movie that isn't family friendly. Even with something as dark as Felix's potential for suicide, that's made into a joke to the point that parents wouldn't find it questionable. There's also the cuckoo sisters's smoking, and Oscar's occasional smoking. But other than those rare elements, The Odd Couple is by and large a family friendly movie. Now some younger viewers may not be able to grasp everything. But older kids might be able to. And it would be safe for them to watch, too.

The comic element of the story isn't the only factor that makes the movie so enjoyable. The music of famed composer Neal Hefty adds an extra dimension to the movie. The movie itself is a laugh riot from start to finish. But there's something about his music that adds an extra dimension to the story. The movie's theme song has become just as timeless as the movie itself. It's one of those things to which audiences almost immediately say, "hey, I know that song". It may not rival any of the greatest pop songs on the charts. But that it's still so well known almost forty-four years after the movie's debut shows its longevity, too. It goes to show just how great a composer Neal Hefty was.

The Odd Couple is among the most timeless movies of all time. It's been spoofed by almost every brand of tv show and movie out there. It's even been ripped off, and made into a tv series. Heck, it's been made into all kinds of tv series and movies, all with different names. It's proof of just how right Neil Simon got things in writing The Odd Couple. It's next to impossible to name just one movie or tv show that hasn't been at least loosely based on it. There are simply far too many to name. So it goes without saying that not only is The Odd Couple one of the best all-time summer movies, it's also unquestionably one of the greatest comedies of all time. And because of the wide expanse of its influence, it's one of the absolute best movies of all time.