Fletch Lives (1989)

I enjoyed this one as much as the first film, though the first is easily the better of the two films in terms of quality and story. This one makes up for the lack in those two areas by being crazier and in areas simply funnier. A relative of Fletch has died and left him their entire estate, a mansion in the south. Well Fletch thinks he has finally found an out to the hustle and bustle of Los Angelos and the annoyances of his ex wife's attorney. Well he arrives at this great place and quickly finds a dump. Not only that soon after he arrives he sleeps with a woman and wakes up to find her dead. So he is not off to an exactly rousing start in his new home. He is also getting pressured by the local televangelist to donate his land to some sort of bible themed amusement park. The film works thanks to the zany situations that Fletch must go through to get behind the truth of who is responsible for his many misfortunes. Some of the highlights in this one include a rather funny gathering of the Klu Klux Klan in front of Fletch's new home, two funny healing scenes in the televangelist church, and a rather humorous chase scene on some motorcycles. The other cast members are good in this one too as it is nice to see that guy who always play a drill sergeant do the role of the preacher. He actually does a rather nice job. Good movie to me that while it is not quite as realistic as the first or have the story, but it makes up for it by being more fun in places.

Fmovies: This movie for me epitomizes the arrogance of Hollywood. The first Fletch movie was a hit, thanks in large part to the fact that it was a fairly faithful adaptation of the first book in the Fletch series by Gregory MacDonald. The book was a tightly woven, well-plotted mystery in which a smart character solved the crime by buffaloing less clued-in types. However, when time came to make a sequel, the studio decided that none of the other dozen or so Fletch novels would be suitable and Instead put together a generic comedy mystery with a plot right out of Scooby-Doo. This is dumbed down generic 80s action junk of the worst sort, partially saved by Chevy Chase's deadpan use of the trademark Fletch trick of disguising himself and impersonating people to get information. To be fair, Chase and the writers manage a few genuine laughs with this, so the gimmick still works, but it's in service of much inferior story, and this simply shouldn't be. A hit book series produces an original hit movie, so why mess with something that works? Simply put, Hollywood studios are staffed by people who think they know better but don't. A comedy-mystery, like any other hybrid, has to work effectively in both genres to be a success and the mystery plot line is just too weak to carry the film.

This movie for me was a special disappointment, as the Fletch series ended here, when Chase could easily have made a career out of starring as Fletch in adaptations of several books before Chase-as- Fletch wore out his welcome. It was a great fit of an actor to a role and should have gone on much longer.

Peggy-Lee Zorba, Nostradamus, The Colonel, Victor Hugo, Billy-Jean King, Claude-Henry Smoot, Peter Lemonjello, Ed Harley, Elmer-Fudd Gantry and Bobby-Lee Schwartz II. Not to mention Fletch himself. Has Chevy Chase ever played so many people in one film? I love Fletch Lives, it is so damn funny and cackles with hilarious dialogue. It's a bloody shame that the critics were beastly, when it first came out. Chevy Chase, once again, nails the role of Fletch and only he can deliver the deadpan sarcasm in a way no other actor can.

Fletch quits his job as an investigative reporter after he inherits a plantation mansion in Louisiana. But he stumbles upon another mystery and does his best to unravel it. Compared to the first the plot may be a little weak but it works fine. The focus seems to have shifted to Fletch's disguises and working set-pieces and gags around them rather than working on layers of mystery. And why the producers commissioned a brand new screenplay instead working from one of Gregory MacDonald's novels is beyond me.

His disguises will, however, make you grin from ear to ear (Claude Henry Smoot steals the show) and they way he comes out with the most ridiculous of things when he's talking to people makes you wonder why they ever believe it. As Peter Lemonjello, Fletch tells a studio camera operator that his house is on fire. The guy believes him! I do wish that they had used more of the Bibleland sets as it seems so much for so little screen time but the presence of R. Lee Ermey as the eccentric TV Evangelist makes up for it.

And to any of you who are puzzled why Mr. Underhill is credited in the cast of characters but not actually in the film, he IS. Look closely at the Zipedee Doo-Dah sequence and you can see him as one of the dancers.

Had the producers treated Fletch like James Bond we might have a new Fletch mystery every two years since 1985 if they followed the order of MacDonald's books (not chronologically, of course, as they're all over the place). It could have turned into Chase's signature roll.

There's been talk of a sequel for years and with various names attached as Chase seems to have been ejected from the role. Though he is the ONLY Fletch in my opinion. At the very least, if a sequel IS made, they cannot dispose of Harold Faltermeyer's brilliant score, which I found to be nothing short of awesome when I was a kid, and little has changed since then.

Fletch Lives fmovies. Irwin Fletcher, or better known as 'Fletch' is a Los Angeles investigative reporter, who quits his job and heads to Belle Isle a vast 80-arce Louisiana plantation that he has inherited from his late aunt. But soon after meeting the lovely attorney and spending the night together, she is mysteriously dead the next morning. This is where the trouble comes along, with a local lawyer telling him to leave town, and a stunning real estate agent has come to make Fletch a healthy offer for his estate. Though Fletch thinks there's something fishy about all of this and he goes to hilarious lengths to figure the real truth about why someone wants his land.

It never seems to amaze me, about how much I get out of this flick. Sure, there's nothing truly great about this feature and you can call it pointless and crude, but I never get tired of the shenanigans and Chevy's wittiness. You could say it's a guilty pleasure of mine that will always be a favourite, no matter what anyone else thinks. 'Fletch Lives' is basically more or less a vehicle for Chevy Chase's dry, smart-ass humour, and his prominently cunning persona. Really, that's about it. During this stage he was one of the funniest comedians in his prime. The others stars who appeared, in the likes of Hal Holbrook, R. Lee Ermey, Julianne Phillips and Richard Libertini basically play off Chase's character and fall under the mockery of his heavy-handed humour. But still, amongst their stupidity are fun performances from the support roles. The beautiful woman in the film seem to be there only for showpieces and to always fall under Fletch's charismatic appeal. Meaning they look nice, but really that's about it.

I'll even go to say that this sequel truly outdoes the original. By containing far more laughs and gags that actually work than that of the original. I don't mind the original, I like it. If you think this sequel is going to be just like the 'Fletch', forget it. It's far from it actually. While the original film was more a mystery story that led into ingenious gags. The mystery in this one takes a back step, and that's a BIG one too. The thin story and Chase's narration isn't much to go by, so most of the elements (or better put, little episodes) provided in the flick are their to give Chase some ammo to pock fun at, while dressing up in his offbeat disguises. In doing so, it basically comes off as parodying that of some movies (look at the title) and the southern states, especially by ridiculing the KKK and Religious gatherings. Some of these scenarios are embarrassing and have no meaning but to pad out the film. But that being said the action and laughs barely let up, as you just roll on with the sharp humour and punch lines. Honestly, its inane drivel that's for sure, but everyone pulls it off well enough. The comical aspect is basically tongue-in-cheek, with a touch of dry remarks and underlying sexual perversion. For some it might be offensive and lowbrow, but I couldn't help myself from raising a smirk from time to time. Chevy Chase's cool-as-ice performance was great fun, and I just enjoyed his manic absurdity overall and Cleavon Little was delightful as Calculus Entropy the caretaker of Fletch's estate.

Nothing will totally gobs-smack you about it, but it's just a sentimental favourite of mine, which I always find something joyous upon each viewing.

You had to a fan of Chevy Chase to fully enjoy the first installment but here you have to be a die hard devotee to get the most out of the sequel. The first one had a really good detective story that nearly got buried with wisecracks, but on subsequent viewings it really came alive and it ranks as one of the best movies Chevy Chase has been involved in.

Fletch Lives has Fletch moving to the South where he has inherited a mansion from his aunt. Continuing interest in buying the nearly worthless land for a huge amount of money evokes suspicions and our favorite reporter goes snooping around.

Fletch Lives is not nearly as well crafted or written as the first one, with a rather predictable mystery that doesn't seem to take itself seriously for one second. But it does have some fantastic comic sequences; such as Fletch impersonating a faith healer, Fletch encountering a mean biker gang, a memorable meeting with a fellow inmate and some one great one-liners delivered with style by the great comedian (as you might have guessed; I'm a big fan).

Supporting actors like Hal Holbrook and R. Lee Ermey add to the enjoyment and Chase delivers but when all is said and done Fletch Lives is for fans only who can overlook the shallowness of the film as a whole.

"Fletch Lives" is a so-so comedy. It has a nice plot that keeps it somewhat interesting. But the humor is very spotty. The best of it comes in Chevy Chase's many disguises. His use of phony names – though of real people in history, was funny for one movie, but gets tiring and not too funny in this sequel. The script again has many wisecracks and cliché's – the latter are obviously intentional as a parody of other films and times. But, they just weren't all that funny.

As with the first film, this one has some unnecessary profanity that is a put off for some viewers, and makes the film not suitable for families. What's disappointing to me is that it lacks punch in the humor. With a good enough plot, I think some writers – and Chase in impromptu, could have come up with some newer funnies. Instead, we get much of the same insipid quips for humor that just don't tickle the funny bone.