leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (06/18/85)
FLETCH
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Every year the Mystery Writers of America choose what they consider to
be the best mystery novel of the year and give it their "Edgar" award. One
of the past winners of the award was FLETCH by Gregory McDonald. The story
(told entirely in dialog, if I remember from leafing through the book) was
about a wise-cracking investigative reported hired by a wealthy businessman
who wants to be murdered. The story was apparently complex and suspenseful
enough to win an Edgar.
It is hard to believe that the filmmakers did not tone down the plot
complexity and turn up the comedy when they cast Chevy Chase as Fletch.
Still, there is enough of a mystery left in FLETCH to keep the audience
guessing just what is going on until all is revealed in the final reel.
Chase is admittedly quite funny in the role at times. Occasionally, he
tries to push the humor a little far as he pipe-dreams himself to be a white
professional basketball player in a silly-looking Afro. The real problem
with Fletch is not the comedy which gets out of hand nor insufficient
storyline, though FLETCH is no PRIZZI'S HONOR. The problem with FLETCH is
that a mystery needs some credibility, and that is almost totally lacking.
All Chase seems to have to do is put on the right weird disguise and pretend
to be someone else and the world just seems to open up to him. If he wants
to find where someone has been flying a private plane, he dresses as an
engine mechanic and, in spite of the fact that he clearly knows nothing
about his assumed field of expertise, people just open up to him with all
kinds of nifty clues. And each just happens to be the right clue for the
next step. Fletch just collects the clues and at the end announces the
results.
As a comedy FLETCH is entertaining, albeit unmemorable. As a mystery
it is less than convincing. As a puzzle it is almost good, though the
solution is not all that impressive. This is not the stuff of which series
should be made, but if it hits at the boxoffice, you can bet that Chase will
be back. Give it +1 on the -4 to +4 scale. If you want to unravel a
puzzle, go see PRIZZI'S HONOR instead.
Mark R. Leeper
...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper