Fletch Lives

I liked the first movie a lot but hadn't heard much about this one, so I really had no idea what to expect. I was bracing myself for disappointment and was rewarded with a pretty fun movie. Even though the story isn't anywhere near as good, Fletch Lives is every bit as funny as the first movie. I've realized that Chevy Chase can make any movie work. If you're a Chevy Chase fan, this movie is worth checking out. My favorite part of these movies is actually the music, and Harold Faltermeyer does what might have been his last great synth score for this film. I just love that theme song. It really makes a huge difference to me, and in the end, it kinda made me sad that they didn't do more of these films. I'm a big fan of mystery/comedies, and the Fletch series is one that I think had a lot of potential that wasn't fully realized. Nevertheless, this one is enjoyable enough.

Fletch Lives (1989)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Chevy Chase returns as Irwin 'Fletch' Fletcher in this sequel to the 1985 flick. This time out Fletch inherits a Louisiana estate and on his first night there the woman who contacted him ends up dying. The reporter in Fletch comes and and he starts an investigation that leads him to a preacher (R. Lee Ermey) who might be hiding a few things. This movie seems to have been beaten to death when originally released and it's somewhat hard to find a positive review of it anywhere but I thought it was a lot better than its reputation. Sure, the movie isn't as smooth or as good as the first one but the most important thing is laughs and that's something I did quite a few times. The movie obviously cuts back on the various characters Chase plays as this is pretty much left to the final twenty-minutes but I didn't mind this too much. You could argue that the screenplay is lazy and just throwing him into a plot involving countless stereotypes but, again, I don't mind this because it made me laugh. The scenes with the KKK, the dumb cop with the termite in his ear and the raccoon hunt were full of stereotypes but they were all funny. Heck, we even get a spoof of SONG OF THE SOUTH. Chase isn't quite as great as in the original film but he's still good enough to keep everything moving and his various characters once again get plenty of laughs. Chase easily plays the role without any problems and even his narration can get some laughs. Ermey is good in his role as usual as is Hal Holbrook and Julianne Phillips. The one and only Randall 'Tex' Cobb does his usual tough character and gets some nice laughs. The film's actual mystery isn't all that interesting and the ending take a while to get to but I still feel this film manages to be a lot more entertaining than its rep would lead you to believe.

Fletch Lives (1989) is a movie I recently rewatched after DVR'ing it off Retroplex. The storyline follows our friend, Fletch, who recently inherits some land from his family in the south. Unfortunately for him the house is run down and the land appears useless; however, for some reason this strange church wants to acquire his land. As he digs into why he uncovers unbelievable "demons" in the town that have been swept under the church's carpet.

This movie is directed by Michael Ritchie (The Golden Child) and stars Chevy Chase (National Lampoon's Vacation), R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket), Hal Holbrook (Creepshow), Julianne Phillips (Skin Deep), Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddles) and Geoffrey Lewis (The Night of the Comet).

I'm going to be in the minority but I like this one way more than the original. This cast is magnificent and Ermey was hilarious as the preacher. Chevy Chase was in classic form in this movie starting with an awesome butt-pinch office scene and continuing into some great "sinning" scenes with him and Ermey. Ermey and Chase had great chemistry throughout this film. The southern jokes throughout the film was tremendous and had me cracking up from beginning to end.

Overall this is a gem that delivers classic 80s humor and is an absolute must see. I would score this a solid 7-7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

"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.

Fletch (Chevy Chase) is a reporter for a Los Angeles newspaper, but he acts more like a detective. When an obscure relative leaves him a Louisiana mansion in his will, Fletch is naturally curious.

The movie gained a mixed to negative reception, and I can understand why. While there is a certain level of fun with any classic Chevy Chase film, this one has almost none of what made the first one great. Much lighter on the antics, and much heavier on trying to play up southern stereotypes for cheap laughs.

Hal Holbrook and R. Lee Ermey make for some good supporting cast members, but they just are not enough to save this one. Entertaining, yes, but not the sequel it should have been.