Weeklies

Movie: "Fletch"
Year: 1985
Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Michael Ritchie
Writing credits: Gregory McDonald, Andrew Bergman

Reviewer: -RoG-
Posted: 1/13/2009

Plot: Fletch is the world's greatest wisecracking undercover journalist who uses his knack for character disguises and witty remarks to get his story.

Review: Fletch. FLETCH! How could anybody not love this movie? Yes, he was great in the Vacation films, Three Amigos and plenty of others, but you simply can't talk about Chevy Chase without mentioning the legendary Irwin M. Fletcher... aka "Ted Nugent", aka "Harry S. Truman", aka "Dr. Rosen-rosen Rosen-penis", aka "Igor Stravinsky", aka "Arnold Babar", aka "John Coctoastan". Fletch is a man of many names and many disguises, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better detective-comedy than this. It's one of the greatest comedies to come out of the 80s, and it's easy to see why with the superb writing, excellent casting, and a catchy as hell soundtrack.

Many fans of Chevy Chase regard the Fletch films as the high point of his career, and rightfully so. Fletch isn't just a comedy you watch once and forget about a few days later. It's a comedy that truly stands the test of time. It sticks with you... it's one that you can seemingly rewatch countless times while never growing tired of it.

Those looking to pursue a career in writing scripts for comedy films could learn a lot from Fletch. There are so many perfectly delivered one-liners in this film, it's frankly amazing and you'll find yourself quoting them constantly. Here's an example of one of the many brilliantly quick exchanges:

Madeline: I'm sorry, who are you again?
Fletch: I'm Frieda's boss.
Madeline: Who's Frieda?
Fletch: My secretary.
PERFECTION.

And that's just one of the countless quick smartass exchanges in the film.

I've long heard rumors about the prequel to Fletch, "Fletch Won", being in production... but if you ask me, nobody can fill Chevy Chase's shoes in this role. It was the role he was born to play. He made it his own with astoundingly perfect deadpan deliveries of every line, and trying to have somebody else take it on is just an awful idea.

Now if you'll excuse me, you have a movie to go watch and I have to go find me some gauze pads and about ten quarts of Quaker State anti-freeze. Maybe when you're done watching you can help me clean these windows... they've got filth and muck all over 'em.

Overall rating: WholeWholeWholeWholeHalf
(Scored on a 0.5 - 5 pickles rating: 0.5 being the worst and 5 being the best)

Reader Comments

frappez le cochon rouge
Jan 13th, 2009, 05:14 PM
Fletch was always one of my favorite series of books and the movies didn't disappoint, either. Chevy Chase is at his best here.
pickled
Jan 13th, 2009, 08:04 PM
I heard talk of a possible remake with sequels.
Fanboy
Jan 13th, 2009, 08:58 PM
I kinda liked the sequel; it wasn't as good as the original, but Cleavon Little was great in it.

There is a new Fletch coming, but it's a prequel more than a remake : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275354/
Last of the Time Lords
Jan 14th, 2009, 05:57 AM
I've been hearing about the prequel for years now. Originally Kevin Smith was going to write and direct it, and Jason Lee was going to play Fletch. That probably would have been pretty good, but I don't think either of them are attached to it now, and it seems to be stuck in development hell.
Serial Loiterer
Jan 14th, 2009, 09:34 AM
Damn near everything Kevin Smith starts ends up in Development Hell.
Turrican't. :(
Jan 14th, 2009, 01:06 PM
I hated this movie. I must be different from the entire Internet. ¬_¬
The Magnificent Bastard
Jan 14th, 2009, 02:24 PM
I don't like this movie either.

And, I usually love Chevy Chase movies.
Built in the 80s
Jan 14th, 2009, 02:50 PM
Fletch is awesome!
Esq.
Jan 14th, 2009, 09:33 PM
good to see fletch up here, I really enjoy this movie as well.
Doctor Caliente
Jan 16th, 2009, 10:43 AM
Good movie. Made even better because it was before Chevy Chase became a total DB.
As u wish...
Jan 21st, 2009, 04:17 PM
-RoG-
U 4got ball bearings....c'mon! it's all ball bearings now!!!