Fletch aux trousses

Chevy Chase plays investigative reporter Irwin M. Fletcher, nicknamed Fletch, who's disguising himself as a junkie on the beach to uncover a smuggling ring. He gets spotted by Tim Matheson, a real estate millionaire, who asks Fletch to kill him so his wife can receive the inherit. Fletch goes snooping around and finds out that his smuggling ring investigation might somehow be tied to the millionaire.

With a different leading man this film could very well have been a full blown thriller. Imagine John Frankenheimer directing and Robert De Niro starring. But, in dealing with what's at hand, Fletch is a good comedy where Chase can showcase his range of disguises and delivery of good one-liners. Chase absolutely smothers the film with wisecracks and the overall very well constructed mystery is nearly overlooked. With repeated viewings I've actually come to appreciate the film more for it's genuinely gripping detective story elements, it really does boast a solid mystery that unfolds well.

There's one thing for sure here; you have to be a fan of Chevy Chase for this film to work for you. Since I'm a fan the film is in high regard. Chase's wisecracks aren't all brilliant but they're mostly very good and here he's at the top of his game.

Fletch and Clark Griswold are the two characters Chevy Chase will most be remembered for.

Irwin Fletcher (Chevy Chase) is a smart-mouthed L.A. investigative reporter with pen name Jane Doe. He's infiltrating the drug trade at the beach when he's approached by Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson). He wants the supposed bum Fletch to shoot him because he has bone cancer. He's willing to pay $50k. Fletch's editor Frank Walker is hounding him for his drug story on Fat Sam selling drugs on the beach. Larry (Geena Davis) is his helpful sidekick. His investigation reveals that Alan isn't actually sick. He flirts with Alan's wife Gail. There's a land deal in Utah. Meanwhile his drug friend Gummy is kidnapped by the cops. Police Chief Jerry Karlin (Joe Don Baker) threatens him as the corrupt cops are after the reporter.

The wise-cracking Chevy Chase is marginally funny. What is most surprising is that there are a couple suspenseful investigation going on in this movie. I'm more invested in the story than actually laugh at Chevy. I'm not quite as impressed with the way Fletch handled Alan in the climatic scene. He's basically explaining the story while being the only guy without a gun. The disguises and the quick dialog are generally fun. It kind of reminds me of 'Beverly Hills Cop' except not quite as good.

I sat and larfed my butt off when I saw this in Beeville TX summer '85. And it still holds up today, though the score is kinda crappy, still...you gotta love the get ups, the one liners, and the mystery, too, kinda works. Check out the scene where joe Don Baker threatens Chevy with the gun...Baker wasn't kidding. He was gonna do in Fletch right then and there. They had just enough oomph in the mystery/police corruption angle to let you know that this wasn't just Slapstick Chevy. It works.

I enjoyed seeing Jim Bob from the Waltons play a bit as a car thief, who gets stuck in a car chase with Chevy, the Kareem cameo, hmmmm, and the pretty generic blonde who Chevy gets at the end. She is quite nice, doesn't seem to have had much of a career...(Dana Wheeler-Nicholson?)

Overall, enjoyable, they coulda made 3-4 of these.

*** outta ****

"Fletch" is a reasonably entertaining thriller parody. It's cleverly scripted, containing some truly hilarious moments and colourful supporting characters. Chevy Chase and the other cast suit their roles perfectly and the various disguises provides the film's most delicious laughs as the licentious conductor. Unfortunately, the fun gets a bit tamer towards the end. Good amusement, nevertheless.

They don't make films this light any more unfortunately. We need more feel good movies and less in your face ones that are made for 18 year olds.

Writing is the key.

I have always enjoyed this 1985 classic comedy crime mystery gem starring Chevy Chase, and I have watched it several times over the years, and trust me, the movie never gets old. It is one of those movies that have that special ingredient to it that makes it possible to watch it again and again.

Writer Andrew Bergman came up with a very enjoyable and entertaining storyline that incorporated elements of the typical Chevy Chase comedy and elements of crime and thriller as well. And the result it just great. The storyline is pretty straight forward and easy to follow, but it never actually becomes too predictable, nor does the pacing of the movie ever slow down.

"Fletch" showcases a lot of Chevy Chase's talent and his ability to portray various characters, and there were plenty of characters in the movie, many of which just makes me laugh hard every time. But the movie also has the likes of Joe Don Baker, Geena Davis, Tim Matheson, M. Emmet Walsh and George Wendt on the cast list, so there are a good amount of familiar faces if you watched movies or TV during the 1980s.

There are lots of funny situations throughout the movie, and Chevy Chase delivers some hilarious characters that really compliment the situations and scenes quite well, as well as providing the correct type of comedy needed to spruce up each scene. Personally, I am always busted up with laughing when he tries to evade the angry Doberman dog, where he sits inside the car with a camera and the dog is on the hood of the vehicle barking like mad, and Fletch says "Smile, say flesh. Look, defenseless babies" and the dog stops to check.

The dialogue in the movie is also good, and it feels like Chevy Chase was allowed to just make up names for his characters as they filmed. The way he comes up with names on the fly is just hilarious, and results in some wonderfully absurd and funny names.

If you haven't seen "Fletch" and find yourself with the opportunity to do so. I can warmly and highly recommend that you so, because this is definitely the embodiment of Chevy Chase comedy.

My rating of this timeless comedy classic is a solid seven out of ten stars. It is well worth a watch, and most certainly well worth your time, money and effort.