FLETCH VS. FLETCH LIVES

“Is everything a joke to you, Fletch?” “Everything, Sam.”

- Fletch (Chevy Chase) and Sam (George Wendt), Fletch (1985)

Oh, Chevy Chase. You used to be so funny (granted I haven’t seen “Community” all that much; if you like him there, more power to you). Still, this guy used to be one of the biggest names in comedy – “Saturday Night Live”, Caddyshack, the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies (except the one in Vegas; come to think of it, I don’t much care for the European one either), Spies Like Us, ¡Three Amigos! and Funny Farm. Then somewhere along the lines, he wound up playing roles like voicing The Karate Dog and a Train in Doogal. Why can’t he make more funny films like… Fletch?

There were two Fletch films made with Chevy Chase in the lead role: Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989). They’re both films I like and enjoy, but most people seem to prefer the original over the sequel. Today, I’ll be seeing why this is the case by looking through both films “bit by bit”.

In Fletch, Irwin M. Fletcher is an investigative reporter undercover as a “middle-class junkie” for a story on drug trafficking on a local beach. He is soon approached by a millionaire named Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) who tells him he is dying of cancer and, rather than live through months of pain through chemotherapy, asks Fletch to murder him at his house, so his family can receive the riches he has. In exchange, Stanwyk promises that Fletch can flee the country safely with $50,000 in tow. Stanwyk doesn’t realize that Fletch is not really a bum, having been tricked into thinking his name is “Ted Nugent”. Reluctantly agreeing, Fletch decides to look into Stanwyk’s case. Moving to a hospital, Fletch discovers that Stanwyk is, in fact, not dying from cancer. He eventually uncovers the corrupt police Chief Karlin (Joe Don Baker) who threatens Fletch off the beach and away from his men. Chased after by police, Fletch follows Stanwyk’s assets to Utah where he finds out that he is married to two different women. Gail Stanwyk (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), the more faithful of the two brides, is devastated and finds comfort (and much more) in Fletch’s arms. Fletch confronts Stanwyk and Karlin who hold him and Gail at gunpoint until its safe for Fletch to fight back. Karlin eventually kills Stanwyk and Fletch manages to knock out Karlan. Safe to continue their relationship, Gail and Fletch go walking on the beach, while Fletch explains the joys of basketball.

Fletch Lives picks up on Fletch quitting his job at the newspaper in order to live at a Louisiana mansion that a great aunt he didn’t know he had has left him after her death. Imagining living the slow and leisure life down South, Fletch is shocked to discover the mansion in complete disrepair. Meeting with a local attorney, Amanda Ross (Patricia Kalember) who wants to buy his property, Fletch works his natural charm well enough to sleep with her. Unfortunately, he wakes up in the morning alone – she’s been murdered. Of course, nobody in town believes Fletch wasn’t the killer except the mansion’s caretaker Calculus (Cleavon Little) and another local attorney, Hamilton Johnson (Hal Holbrook). Investigating who keeps offering money to buy the house, Fletch falls back into his old investigation instincts by disguising himself as a faith healer to follow a charismatic charlatan of a preacher, Rev. Jimmy Lee Farnsworth (R. Lee Ermey) who wants Fletch’s land to put up a Bible-themed theme park. Fletch discovers although the preacher is obviously a loud-mouthed fraud, he’s not responsible for framing him for Patricia’s death. Fletch trails the money back to a mysterious organization “Everest Development”. Everest wants to purchase Fletch’s land to dump its excess toxic waste. The owner of Everest turns out to be none other than Hamilton Johnson, out for revenge against Rev. Farnsworth. Chasing Fletch onto Farnsworth’s live show, Hamilton is shot by Calculus who is revealed to be an FBI agent. Although the incident doesn’t change Farnsworth’s low-down behavior, Fletch decides it’s time for him to return home. Back at the newspaper, Fletch gleefully gives the now worthless toxic dump property to his ex-wife.

What sets apart both films is its use of humor and tone. Whereas Fletch’s humor came out of the situations Fletch found himself in because of a serious mystery he was investigating, Fletch Lives’ humor is somewhat reversed – the humor comes out of the disguises Fletch uses to solve the mystery. It starts out as a joke to solve a crime, rather than solving a crime and then finding the jokes within. Both films have a great supporting cast. It’s especially humorous to see Joe Don Baker play a police chief in Fletch after seeing his slovenly performance in Mitchell on an episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. Fletch Lives has Blazing Saddles’ immensely talented comedic star Cleavon Little and the unforgettable R. Lee Ermey playing against type as a Jimmy Swaggart-esque preacher.

A third Fletch film has been talked about for years without any serious development. In 2000, Kevin Smith, a fan of the Fletch films, wrote a script titled “Son of Fletch” which would have cast Jason Lee as, of course, Fletch’s son. It was written in a way that could vary on Chevy Chase’s involvement – if he committed to it, they could co-star in the film together, if he only wanted in certain scenes, they could explore more of Lee’s character. Disagreements between Chase and Smith led to a second attempt at a third Fletch film called “Fletch Won”. “Fletch Won” would be a prequel involving a young Fletch on his first assignment. The film would have potentially still involved Chase as either reprising his role in bookends or simply narrating the film. 5 years went by without any further involvement and Smith left the project. The project is currently supposedly to be held by Hot Tub Time Machine director Steve Pink, but since Pink has just been hired to direct Bad Santa 2 and the upcoming remake of The Toxic Avenger, there’s no telling when audiences might see Fletch back on the big screen.

At the end of the day, I would agree with those who say Fletch is superior to Fletch Lives, if only because it has a more compelling mystery. The fact that it’s a comedy is mere icing on the cake and Chase’s performance is completely top-notch. Fletch Lives still has nice moments and a good supporting cast but ultimately loses because of its increased focus on the disguises Fletch wears rather than the mystery he’s trying to solve. Above all, Chevy Chase was at his very best with this character.

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

- Tagline for Fletch (1985)