Was this trip necessary? While Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon originated the roles of Oscar Madison and Felix Unger on film, it is Jack Klugman and Tony Randall who are now indelibly associated with Neil Simon's classic comic characters. Whatever demand or anticipation there was to see Matthau and Lemmon reunited in these roles was dulled by the Grumpy Old Men films. Worse, screenwriter Simon, at his most simple, eschews the human comedy that was at the heart of the original. Is this the best he could come up with after 30 years: Oscar's son marrying Felix's daughter (incredibly, neither father knows they were dating) and the dads sharing a predictably disastrous ride to the wedding? Of course they still drive each other crazy. "I'm still a pig," notes Oscar, "and you're still a human vacuum cleaner." I would rather share a car with Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura. Not recommended. (K. Lee Benson)
The Odd Couple II
(Paramount, 97 min., PG-13, avail. Oct. 13) Vol. 13, Issue 5
The Odd Couple II
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