Fletch (1985)

Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher is a newspaper reporter being offered a large sum to off a cancerous millionaire, but is on the run, risking his job and finding clues when it's clear the man is healthy.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writers:

Gregory McDonald (novel), Andrew Bergman (screenplay)

Stars:

Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chevy Chase	...	Fletch
Joe Don Baker	...	Chief Karlin
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson	...	Gail Stanwyk
Richard Libertini	...	Walker
Tim Matheson	...	Alan Stanwyk
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Dr. Dolan
George Wendt	...	Fat Sam
Kenneth Mars	...	Stanton Boyd
Geena Davis	...	Larry
Bill Henderson	...	Speaker
William Traylor	...	Mr. Underhill
George Wyner	...	Gillet
Tony Longo	...	Detective #1
Larry Flash Jenkins	...	Gummy
Ralph Seymour	...	Creasy

Storyline

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, Los Angeles journalist, really lives for his profession. As Jane Doe, he publishes articles that have caused several heads to roll in the past. Now, Fletch is at it again: In disguise as a bum, he lives at the beach, researching drugs and their dealing. One day, Fletch is addressed by Alan Stanwyk, a rich man, who asks him, the bum, a favour. For the sum of $50,000, Fletch should kill poor cancer-ridden Mr. Stanwyk with a gun, so that his wife will get the insurance money. What the guy didn't think of was Fletch's real profession. Returning into normal life, Fletch instantly takes up research not only to find out that Mr. Stanwyk is healthy as life itself but he also runs into certain connections between drug dealing at the beach, Alan Stanwyk, his private jet, the police and a very expensive piece of Land in Utah.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to the godfather | reference to dirty harry | reference to cujo | lighter | tennis club | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fletch tells a beach drifter in one scene that he "feels like a hundred dollars". This line is also said by Ty Webb in Caddyshack (1980), a role also played by Chevy Chase.

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Goofs

During the chase of the Alfa Romeo they are on the freeway and a police car is in the lane to the right of the Alfa. Seconds later they are on a surface street and the police car runs off the road and flips over.

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Quotes

Fletch: You know, what tipped it for me was something your wife said while we were in bed together.
Alan Stanwyk: Oh? And what was that?
Fletch: Curiously, she said we had roughly the same build. From the waist up, I imagine.

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Alternate Versions

The German DVD version (which has a "12" rating) omits Fletch's line "Yeah, go down to the gym and pump each other" - after Karlin asks the arresting officers, "Why don't you two leave us alone?", there is a cut and the two just leave the room.

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Connections

Referenced in Mallrats (1995)

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Soundtracks

Moon River
Written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer
Published by Famous Music Corporation

User Reviews

GREAT MOVIE - will leave you dying laughing!

This movie is over the top hillarious - I don't know what hyped up dope that the last person who left a comment was on, but I LOVE this movie! What really makes the movie is both Fletch's imagination, his flair for developing different characters, and especially his speed talking. examples include "I love your body Larry (Geena Davis)" while on the phone in front of a hotel clerk, "Nugent, Ted Nugent" when asked by Alan what his name was, "What kind of a name is Poon anyways?" asks Mr. Boyd, to which Fletch's reply is, "Comanche Indian". This movie totally rocks and you will love seeing it AGAIN and AGAIN!!! It is so much better than jay and silent bob strike back, you'll be laughing for hours! enjoy!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fletch

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,022,970, 2 June 1985

Gross USA:

$50,612,888

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$59,612,888

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Vincent Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1