Fletch (1985)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writers:

Gregory McDonald (novel)
Andrew Bergman (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 May 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Tagline:

Meet the only guy who changes his identity more often than his underwear.

Plot:

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, Los Angeles journalist, really lives for his profession. As Jane Doe, he publishes...

Plot Keywords:

Fletch | Drugs | Beach | Police | Disguise

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chevy Chase	...	Irwin 'Fletch' Fletcher
Joe Don Baker	...	Chief Jerry Karlin
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson	...	Gail Stanwyk
Richard Libertini	...	Frank Walker
Tim Matheson	...	Alan Stanwyk
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Dr. Joseph Dolan
George Wendt	...	Fat Sam
Kenneth Mars	...	Stanton Boyd
Geena Davis	...	Larry
Bill Henderson	...	Speaker
William Traylor	...	Ted Underhill
George Wyner	...	Marvin Gillet
Tony Longo	...	Detective #1
Larry Flash Jenkins	...	Gummy
Ralph Seymour	...	Creasy

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M (Cable TV rating) | Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:11 | Norway:12 (1985) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Irwin Fletcher's daydream of playing in the NBA was based partly on another "Earvin"; former L.A. Laker Magic Johnson. In the movie's promotional poster, Fletch's team ID card bears the name "Magic Christian" (a reference to The Magic Christian (1969), a 1969 Peter Sellers movie based on a Terry Southern novel).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During Fletch's dream of playing for the Lakers, we see a top down shot of him as he tries to drive the lane for a basket. At the top of the screen for a few seconds it is revealed that the court ends at half court and is therefore not a complete regulation NBA basketball court, and is instead a sound stage as opposed to a sports arena.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Fletch: [narrating] When it came to basketball Gail was a loss, but we had our own version of one-on-one and she thought I was the bravest guy in the world. Which, of course, I am. By the way, I charged the entire vacation to Mr. Underhill's American Express Card. Want the number?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar (#2.8)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Moon River

Classic Chevy

Chevy Chase's finest comedy. It's the part that he really sunk his teeth into. It's a perfect blend of humor, mystery and drama. Although Chase gets more mileage out of it because of the laughs, it's an intriguing character in all respects.

Michael Ritchie directs nicely and the supporting cast works well, particularly Libertini as Fletch's noisy and brassy editor in chief. This is a film that is filled with more classic one liners than any film in the 1980's. It's one that makes us miss the old Chase and wonder why he's planning to make yet another "Vacation" movie.

We miss you, Chevy!