‘The Odd Couple’
C-
A remake of the 1970’s series “The Odd Couple” has made its way to television, this time starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon.
Based on a play written by Neil Simon, “The Odd Couple” has transcended generations with laughter through film and television. With the unlikely pair of Felix and Oscar, played by Lennon and Perry respectively, the show has once again reinvented itself.
Oscar, the fun-loving, sloppy, ultra-masculine, dirty sports radio personality, has his life altered when his friend, an uptight, sensitive neat-freak named Felix, comes to stay with him.
This is a formula for crazy antics and romantic escapades in the lives of these incompatible friends.
The show has everything a sitcom is supposed to have: two characters to play off one another, comedy that — while funny — does not offend anyone and a laugh track to let you know when the predictable jokes are supposed to be the punch lines.
Though it might have been funny 45 years ago, “The Odd Couple” falls short in this 2015 rendition. The jokes were recycled and fit the sitcom formula of humor. They failed to test the boundaries and always fell in favor of making fun of the feminized Felix, who cleaned the house, made dinner and catered to the men watching sports.
The men are polar opposites, as one represents the socially acceptable version of masculinity while the other represents the socially unacceptable version of a feminine man.
Is it still funny when a man is concerned with keeping a house clean? Is it still funny that a man could be more interested in creating a recipe instead of watching a basketball game?
Unfortunately, yes.
Then the jokes go on to say Felix’s wife left him because of his qualities, which we learn are all stereotypically feminine.
And to make viewers even angrier, Felix decides to live with Oscar so he can be “fixed” and loved again.
I rest my case.
I will give the writers credit for trying to hide the feminine man and masculine man theme, but it seemed all but obvious when you really dug into the show.
Another male-driven comedy that really isn’t funny — just what primetime television needed. I hope you sense my sarcasm.
If you want to watch “The Odd Couple,” I suggest the film or original TV series.
“The Odd Couple” was nothing but normal. Though the pairing might be odd, the story line was typical.
