A strange pair of box

The Odd Couple (USA 1968, approx. 101 min., rated PG-12): Neil Simon has a keen sense for drawing out stunning comedy from average people doing everyday things: Two divorced men decide to share an apartment in New York City. This serves as the starting point for "The Odd Couple" - although there is nothing odd about casting Oscar winners Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the two roles. The two seasoned comedians are as in sync as a vaudeville duo, yet they still come across as wonderfully spontaneous. Lemmon plays the finicky Felix, who couldn't be more demanding. With his fastidiousness, he proves that cleanliness and madness are closely related. Matthau is Oscar, who can create the greatest chaos in a tidy room with the speed of a tornado. A lasting, lovable portrayal with a sharp wit that is often missing in comedies.

Still the Odd Couple (USA 1998, approx. 92 min., rated PG): This comedy gem reunites Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau once again. They reprise their roles as Felix and Oscar in Neil Simon's "Still the Odd Couple." Times have changed, but fortunately, the circumstances have not. The former roommates, Felix Ungar (Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Matthau), still do not complement each other at all. Oscar remains the same slob, where a brown sock and a black sock match perfectly. And meticulous Felix must still alphabetically sort every spice rack he encounters. After years of going their separate ways, they now set off together to attend the wedding of Oscar's son to Felix's daughter. They have a road map, a rental car, and Neil Simon's wordplay as the right fuel for a rapid acceleration from 0 to 100 laughs per second.