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Fletch
1985 - PG - 98 Mins.
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| Director: Michael Ritchie | | Producer: Peter Douglas, Alan Greisman | | Written By: Gregory McDonald, Andrew Bergman | | Starring: Chevy Chase, George Wendt, Joe Don Baker, Geena Davis, Tim Matheson |
| Review by: John Ulmer |
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Meet the only guy who changes his identity more often than his underwear...
Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Chevy Chase) is a Los Angeles journalist who lives for his profession. As Jane Doe, he publishes articles that have caused several heads to roll in the past. Now, Fletch is at it again: In disguise as a bum, he lives at the beach, researching drugs and their dealing. One day, Fletch is addressed by Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson), a rich man, who asks Fletch a favor. For the sum of $50,000, Fletch should kill poor cancer-ridden Mr. Stanwyk with a gun, so that his wife will get the insurance money. What the guy didn't think of was Fletch's real profession. Returning into normal life, Fletch instantly takes up research not only to find out that Mr. Stanwyk is healthy as life itself but he also runs into certain connections between drug dealing at the beach, Alan Stanwyk, his private jet, the police and a very expensive piece of Land in Utah.
The 1985 comedy hit "Fletch," which spawned a less successful sequel, is an above average eighties comedy with just enough laughs to entertain.
Chevy Chase is not a favorite actor of mine. I always preferred Akyroyd over him in the old SNL days, and the only film role I feel he fit into perfectly was the Clark Griswold persona in the "Vacation" movies. However, even though he's not great, he is a good choice for Fletch (I guess) because he brings that dumb, stuck-up, know-it-all quality to the character of Fletch.
The laughs do fall short sometimes, but overall, Fletch is a worthwhile film. It is entertaining, if not a bit flawed.
I am surprised that another sequel, directed this time by Kevin "Clerks" Smith, called "Fletch Won" is being made, but then again, we're seeing a lot of remakes/postponed sequels these days. I hope "Fletch Won" isn't as bad as the new "Star Wars 'Epics'."
This comedy is definitely worth seeing. Look out for it on TBS, it plays on that channel a lot.
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