Do opposites really attract, or is that just something people say when they don't get along with their spouses? Exhibit A for the opposites attract theory has to be Felix and Oscar from The Odd Couple. Felix Unger is a compulsively neat individual who is incredibly high strung, prone to panic attacks, and not great with change. Oscar is a laid-back, messy extrovert who is perfectly happy to live in his own filth until the mold starts fighting back. They end up living together after the breakdown of both their marriages, and it's an adjustment, to say the least. The Odd Couple was originally a film starring the late great Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and was adapted for television in 1970 with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman in the leading roles. It's such an enduring show because the characters are so relatable - they're extreme depictions of two personality types, to be sure, but everyone can identify with being either a Felix or an Oscar. It's comforting to see these two men bring out the best in each other, because if they can do, that gives us hope that we can somehow manage to alleviate some of our own personality flaws.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
