Synopsis
When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.
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Cast
- Chevy ChaseIrwin 'Fletch' Fletcher
- Tim MathesonAlan Stanwyk
- Dana Wheeler-NicholsonGail Stanwyk
- Joe Don BakerChief Jerry Karlin
- Richard LibertiniFrank Walker
- Geena DavisLarry
- M. Emmet WalshDr. Joseph Dolan
- George WendtFat Sam
- Kenneth MarsStanton Boyd
- Bill HendersonSpeaker
Recommendations
- 90
Time
Even the car chase in Fletch is witty and believable and something an adult can attend without flinching. As the adolescent revels of summer wear on, that alone could make it a movie to cherish. - 88
Chicago Tribune
Fletch is more than funny; it's funny and exciting.[31 May 1985, p.A] - 80
Variety
What propels this contempo LA yarn about a dissembling newspaper columnist on the trail of a nefarious con man (Tim Matheson) is the obvious and successful byplay between Chevy Chase’s sly, glib persona and the satiric brushstrokes of director Michael Ritchie. Their teamwork turns an otherwise hair-pinned, anecdotal plot into a breezy, peppy frolic and a tour de force for Chase. - 80
Washington Post
Director Michael Ritchie refreshingly shows no reverence for film noir. And screenwriter Andrew Bergman, who co-wrote "Blazing Saddles," shows no mercy in what turns out to be a good mystery as well as comedy. [31 May 1985, p.25] - 75
TV Guide Magazine
Fast-paced and witty, this is Chase's best solo venture to date, and will hold almost anyone's attention for its well-edited 98 minutes. Chase underplays his wackier moments to great effect, though he isn't always quite as funny as he thinks he is. (He also isn't the next Cary Grant, which he seems to believe as well.) - 70
The New York Times
An enjoyable paperback of a film, a lightweight, breezy experience that, by never pretending to be anything more than what it is, disarms criticism. - 70
Chicago Reader
Michael Ritchie's 1985 mystery comedy has the pleasant, modest feel of a Fox B picture from the 30s—a Charlie Chan with a sense of humor... It does make for a decent evening's entertainment. - 63
Chicago Sun-Times
Fletch needed an actor more interested in playing the character than in playing himself.
