CinemaSerf

Jul 15, 2022

7.0

"Felix" (Jack Lemmon) and "Oscar" (Walter Matthau) are best pals who get together once a week with their friends to play poker and shoot the breeze. Their friendship is about to be severely tested, though, when the former man announced that he has split up with his wife. "Oscar" rides to the rescue with an offer for him to move in with him, and what now ensues are a cleverly written, and generally entertaining, series of domestic scenarios in which these two men must learn to cohabit. It's pretty clear from the outset that "Oscar" is not exactly house-proud and as the story develops their relationship starts to creak. Neil Simon has created a wonderfully witty, pithy and humorous dialogue which both men deliver with a great deal of natural timing; they immerse themselves in the roles - an unusual narrative for two men - and deliver quite an engaging observation on how these two friends simply cannot cope with each other full time. Aside from a few scenes from their card-playing buddies and a rather difficult double date with posh Brits "Gwendolyn" (Carole Shelley) and "Cecily" (Monica Evans) - which follows a scene of domestic petulance over some tardiness and meatloaf that is instantly recognisable to most of us, this is a fine example of two actors who gel really well on screen. Oddly enough, I think this is a bit of a love story. Not in the conventional, romantic, sense - but despite their bickering and squabbling these men do care for each other. The theme tune is pretty good, too.