Ein verrücktes Paar (1993)

Ein verrücktes Paar: Directed by Donald Petrie. With Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith. A lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.

“The opening credits in this film roll to the tune of u0026quot;Heat Waveu0026quot;, and it was during a recent heat wave that I dusted off my well-worn copy of u0026quot;Grumpy Old Menu0026quot; and settled in to once again watch the first of four movies that made up the u0026quot;second comingu0026quot; of the Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau team. To those who have not yet seen the movie, (yes, there may be a few) it was set (and filmed) in snowy Minnesota, which give the film an authentic small town feel that the talented set designers of Hollywood would be hard pressed to duplicate. From the starsu0026#39; first lines in the film (u0026quot;u0026#39;Morning ****headu0026quot;, u0026quot;Hello moronu0026quot;) we know what to expect, and the movie doesnu0026#39;t disappoint us. The verbal sparring between Max and John continues non-stop through 100+ laugh filled minutes. Both the plot and the ending are not quite believable, but who really cares? For those who want reality, there are many depressing films out there, not to mention the news- papers and CNN. I have never read if all the cast members were the first choices for the parts, but every one of the cast fits their roles perfectly. Ann-Margret has evolved from her dancing, grinding u0026quot;sexpotu0026quot; image in the 60u0026#39;s to a wonderful, natural actress. Burgess Meredith….what can I say? Heu0026#39;s perfect as Johnu0026#39;s father, a crusty, lovable old man. The interplay between Jack and Burgess is so easy, and why not? Who better to play a 94 year old than the 80+ year old Meredith. While Burgess is lovable, Daryl Hannah is lovely. As Johnu0026#39;s daughter Melanie, I have never seen her look more beautiful and heart-melting as she does in this picture. Ozzie Davis, Kevin Pollak, and Buck Henry round out the cast, and bring their many talents to the picture. While much has been written about the comedy, very little is said about the realistic side of u0026quot;Grumpy Old Menu0026quot;. There are a few fleeting scenes that reveal the heartache and loneliness of growing old. And Johnu0026#39;s dealings with the I.R.S. in the movie, while hilarious, points out what can happen when the machine-like IRS process starts to roll over an individual not caring about the human-real life side of the situation. The only u0026quot;downeru0026quot; for me in again watching this movie is the knowlege that the string is over. Walter and Jack and Burgess are gone. I canu0026#39;t watch this movie without feeling just a tinge of sorrow. When most actors their age pass on, we feel sorrow, and then watch their classics from decades ago. With Walter and Jack the best was yet to come. I have read elsewhere that scripts were in the works for u0026quot;Grumpy Old Men 3u0026quot; and u0026quot;Odd Couple 3u0026quot;. Who knows how many more successful films this brilliant team could have made together. I doubt if the formula for their success would have grown stale, because both Walter and Jack no longer acted….their roles where just an extension of themselves.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhether it be Grumpy or Grumpier Old Men, u0026quot;Odd Couple IIu0026quot;, or u0026quot;Out to Seau0026quot; we were as much visiting with old friends as we were watching a movie. Old friends get more endearing with age, and we would have never tired of new visits from them, no matter what the role. Burgess, Jack, and Walter…..wherever you are…thanks for the laughs youu0026#39;ve given us over the years. You made us feel good, which is the best epitaph anyone could wish for.”