Fletch

Details

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher is a divorced investigative reporter for a local newspaper who writes under the pseudonym Jane Doe. When he is not avoiding alimony payments to his ex-wife's solicitor, he is working undercover at the beach disguised as a down-and-out. His current assignment involves investigating the local drug smuggling and dealing scene, and he is patiently looking for leads.

One day Fletch is approached on the beach by Alan Stanwyk, a wealthy local businessman who is searching for a beach bum willing to earn a few easy dollars. Intrigued by the request - and the offer of $1000 just to listen - Fletch agrees to hear him out. Stanwyk claims he is dying of cancer and wants Fletch to shoot him at his home so that his wife can collect a substantial insurance payout. In return he offers Fletch $50,000 and a plane ticket out of the country.

Of course, Stanwyk has no idea that Fletch is actually a reporter. When Fletch returns to the newsroom he begins digging into Stanwyk's background. Using his rather questionable "mastery" of disguise, he infiltrates a hospital to investigate Stanwyk's medical records. What he discovers raises serious doubts about Stanwyk's story, and before long Fletch finds himself juggling disguises, dodgy accents and a growing mystery as he tries to uncover the truth behind the strange request.

Picture & Sound

For a film of its age the picture is surprisingly bright and reasonably colourful throughout. Although the image suffers from slightly excessive contrast at times, it is refreshingly free from the dust specks and print damage that often plague older catalogue titles. There are also no obvious signs of artifacting or outlining. Overall the transfer exceeded my expectations and was a pleasant surprise compared to many rushed DVD back catalogue releases.

With the film dating back to 1985 you should not expect anything particularly spectacular from the sound department, especially considering the limited restoration work that appears to have been done. That said, the stereo soundtrack is perfectly adequate for what is largely a dialogue-driven film. The score, meanwhile, is classic 1980s synth work from Harold Faltermeyer, the same composer responsible for the memorable themes from Miami Vice and Beverly Hills Cop.

Menu & Extras

The extras and static menu are hardly groundbreaking, with only the theatrical trailer included. Unfortunately the trailer appears to have been sourced from a particularly battered print, as it is riddled with dust, scratches and other visual imperfections. It is surprising that it was included in such poor condition.

It would also have been nice to see a commentary track from Chevy Chase. I'm not sure he has recorded many commentaries over the years, but given that Fletch remains one of his most iconic roles, it would have been the perfect opportunity to make this a much stronger DVD release.

Overall

This film captures Chevy Chase at the height of his comedy career - back when he was genuinely funny - and the various disguises and characters that Fletch adopts throughout the film provide many of its best moments. However, it is Chase's trademark dry one-liners and deadpan delivery that really carry the film and keep the laughs coming.

Although the DVD itself is fairly bare-bones, Fletch remains an entertaining mix of comedy and light detective mystery. Fans of Chevy Chase will certainly enjoy it, and newcomers may be pleasantly surprised by just how sharp and quotable the script still feels. If you enjoy offbeat comedies from the 1980s, this is well worth adding to your collection.

Special features

• Theatrical Trailer