The Odd Couple II (1998)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer (WGA):

Neil Simon (written by)

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

Some arguments stand the test of time

Plot:

Oscar and Felix take a road trip to their son and daughter's wedding.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Road Trip | Marriage | Reference To Clint Eastwood | Sequel

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Felix Ungar
Walter Matthau	...	Oscar Madison
Richard Riehle	...	Detective
Jonathan Silverman	...	Brucey Madison
Lisa Waltz	...	Hannah Unger
Mary Beth Peil	...	Felice
Christine Baranski	...	Thelma
Jean Smart	...	Holly
Rex Linn	...	JayJay
Jay O. Sanders	...	Leroy
Barnard Hughes	...	Beaumont
Ellen Geer	...	Frances Unger Melnick
Doris Belack	...	Blanche Madison Povitch
Lou Cutell	...	Abe
Mary Fogarty	...	Flossie, the Grouch (as Mary Fogerty)

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's The Odd Couple II
Odd Couple 2: Travelin' Light (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Ireland:12 | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau's final screen appearance together.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Felix and Oscar are called out of the holding cell, Felix says "If we go down, you go down with us" to the truck driver. As he says this it cuts between two shots quickly, and in the first shot when he says, "If we go down ..." his mouth isn't moving.

Quotes:

Felix Ungar: What do the directions say?
Oscar Madison: They're gone, I threw them out the window.
Felix Ungar: [laughing] Oh, you threw them out the window... you threw them out the window? What the hell made you do a stupid thing like that?
Oscar Madison: Well, I had them on my lap so I could read them. I lit my cigar, the hot ashes fell on my crotch, the map caught fire. I had the choice of either finding the house, or burning up one of the most important parts of my body. Guess which I picked?

Movie Connections:

References "I Love Lucy" (1951)

Soundtrack:

Little Sister

Better than expected...

Despite poor reviews from critics, this follow-up to the "Odd Couple" delivers quite a few big laughs. Both stars are in top form, although it looks as if old age is begining to damper (just slightly) ol' Walter Matthau's style. I enjoyed many of the sight gags, especially one with Bernard Hughes as a man planning to live to "120" as he drives them cross-country. Howard Duetch, who also directed the hilarious "Grumpier Old Men", does a fine job switching between the dramatic and comedic moments. Not a great film, but an entertaining one with quite a few guffaws. It's biggest downfall: It reminded me more of the "Grumpy Old Men" films than the original "Odd Couple".