moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (06/21/85)
The problem with reviewing this film is, I read the book several
months ago, and I knew basically what the plot would be before
entering the theater. I didn't particularly like the book, but I've
found the movie to be both an improvement and a failure on
depicting the character.
_Fletch_ is the story of a reporter named Fletcher, played by Chevy
Chase, who uncovers a very unusual story while do an undercover
story about drugs on the L.A. beaches. He is approached by a very
rich aviation executive (Tim Matheson) and asked to murder
Matheson; according to the executive, he has bone cancer, and he
doesn't want to have to go through the pain of the last few months,
but he doesn't want to commit suicide, as that voids his life
insurance salesman. He assumes Fletch to be just another junkie
on the beach, but after agreeing to the murder, Fletch begins to
investigate Matheson. The rest of the film depicts Fletch's
investigations and what he uncovers.
In the book, Fletch is portrayed as a single-minded, wise-ass
reporter who is an EXCELLENT investigative journalist. However,
he is rather immoral and not a very pleasant person. Chase
improves on the character in that he becomes a more likable
person through Chase; however, Chase plays the wise-ass feature
into overdrive, to a point that you can't believe this guy is really a
hot shot reporter -- he is lampooning people so much that you
wonder why they even answer his questions. Also, the book shows
that Fletch does respect certain people -- he doesn't pull the
wise-ass routine with everyone. Here, Chase makes fun of
everyone: his friends, his enemies, innocent bystanders. He's
enjoyable to watch when badgering the bad guys (the dialogue is
very snappy), but when he's baiting his friends, you wonder why
he hangs around them.
Anyway, knowing how the plot comes out ruined the film for me;
however, I think that if you have not read the book, and you enjoy
Chase's style of humor, you'll like _Fletch_.
"By the way, I payed for the whole trip on Mr. Underhill's American
Express card. Want the number?"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
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