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Fletch lives
by CarlosC (movies profile)
Mar 17, 2004
2
of
3 people found this review helpful
"I'm from California -- San Berdue." That's the first line from FLETCH (1985) that I ever heard, and I heard it many times, years before I ever saw the movie. An old friend likes to quote that underrated line from the film for, among other reasons, I suspect, its flagrant -- yet, cryptic -- sarcasm. It is the sarcasm of a one-man inside-joke, as Chevy Chase goes through the movie lying on the outside, while laughing on the inside. An investigative reporter, FLETCH (Chase) must go undercover to find out why an aviation executive (Tim Matheson) offers FLETCH $50G to kill him.
FLETCH was an undercover assignment for me, also; my job was to figure out what made my friend so love this flick. Several hints come throughout the movie as the wise-cracking FLETCH introduces himself to unsuspecting receptionists and airport employees as Ted Nugent, Harry S. Truman, Don Corleone, G. Gordon Liddy, Igor Stravinsky, Fletch F. Fletch, and -- of course -- Dr. Rosenpenis (or, in the alternative, Dr. Rosenrosen). That made plenty of sense, because my friend has been known to pick-up women in bars by pretending to be a French gymnast.
Still, the central mystery of what attracts a superior comedian to a mediocre comedy alluded me. The superior comedian is Chevy Chase, or my friend, depending on your angle. Whether you think FLETCH is funny or not also depends on your comic latitude, as it turns out. Many find Chevy Chase to be tedious and obnoxious as he chews up the scenery with his tongue against his cheek. But, for a knowing few who share the hero's comic sensibilities, every inside joke is one they're in on, which has its rewards.
The final question about FLETCH is why humor is so particular with folks. Why do some positively detest Chris Farley, or the movie FARGO (1996), for instance, while others swear there was no true comedy before they came along? The difference of perspectives is illustrated in FLETCH during a discussion about death between the irreverent FLETCH and the august Doctor Dolan (J. Emmet Walsh):
DOLAN: You know, it's a shame about Ed.
FLETCH: Oh, it was...that was really a shame -- to go so suddenly like that.
DOLAN: Aw, he was dying for years.
FLETCH: Sure, but the end was very -- very sudden...
DOLAN: He was in intensive care for eight weeks!
FLETCH: Yeah, but I mean the *very* end, when he actually died -- that was extremely sudden!
If you identify with the working stiffs FLETCH is constantly fooling, then FLETCH will not ingratiate himself to you. But, if you ever aspired to indulge your inner chuckle, FLETCH is your man.
Sequels: FLETCH LIVES (1989) and FLETCH 3.
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