Movie Reviews by Edwin Jahiel

FLETCH (1985)

An aviation executive mistakes Fletch (Chevy Chase) for a beach bum,claims that he is terminally ill, offers him $50,000 if Fletch to kills him, for insurance purposes. What the man doesn't know is that Fletch is a maverick investigative reporter who smells a rat... His investigation is fast-paced and most amusing. The movie is funny and unpretentious, directed adroitly and lightly with solid attention to construction and detail, without repeating gags and effects. It was a comeback for director Michael Ritchie, whose "Downhill Racer", "Smile", or "The Candidate" had been followed by lemons. It's a comeback too for writer-director Andrew Bergman, whose adaptation of the popular novel "Fletch" (1974) is cleverly streamlined. Fletch was Chase's best film role until then. He uses many false identities and personalities, shows aplomb, chutzpah and quick thinking. He plays in a laid-back fashion within a laid-back movie but is never passive. The entire cast is fine. Geena Davis has a small but obviously very promising part. (Edwin Jahiel)