Fletch (The "Jane Doe" Edition)
Starring: Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Richard Libertini, Tim MathesonDirector: Michael Ritchie
Studio: Universal Studios
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release: May 1st 2007
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DVD Review
Gregory McDonald's lightweight mystery novel about an undercover newspaper reporter cracking a police drug ring is transformed by screenwriter Andrew Bergman (Blazing Saddles, and writer/director of The Freshman and Honeymoon in Vegas) into a fairly sarcastic and occasionally very funny Chevy Chase vehicle. Enjoyment of the film pivots on whether you find Chase's flippant, smart-ass brand of verbal humor funny, or merely egocentric. If you don't like Chase, there's really no one else worth watching (Geena Davis is sadly underused). Chase seems born to play I.M. "Fletch" Fletcher, a disillusioned investigative reporter whose cynicism and detached view on life mirrors the actor's understated approach to comedy. Fletcher offers Chase the opportunity to adopt numerous personas, as his job requires numerous (bad) physical disguises, and much of film's humor centers on the ridiculous idea that any of these phony accents or bad hairpieces could fool anyone. These not-so-clever disguises are put to use when Fletch becomes involved in the film's smart but continually self-mocking two-part mystery. As well as trying to gather drug-smuggling evidence against the LAPD for a long-overdue newspaper story, a rich and apparently terminally ill stranger also offers Fletch a large payoff to kill him. While the film does a fairly good job juggling both of these plots, not to mention tossing in a love interest as well, it's subservient, for better or worse, to Chase's memorable one-liners and disguises. Followed by two forgettable sequels that lack both the original's wit and Chase's attention span. --Dave McCoy
User Reviews
Fletch - Rating: 3/5
I think this is one of Chevy Chase's better films. I don't like his movies where it is just one personal disaster after another. He is a hero in this movie, not bad.
Fletch DVD - Rating: 5/5
I purchased this for a Chevy Chase fan for Christmas and I couldn't find it in the stores...I finally got someone something they really wanted; he was very happy.
Still great after all these years - Rating: 5/5
This classic Chevy Chase movie was great on DVD. The item arrived quickly, and was in perfect condition.
Jane Doe Edition= Great Pcture and Sound, Lousy Extras - Rating: 4/5
I did not own the previous DVD of Fletch when this came out, so I bought it right away. The sound quality gets an A, and the picture quality gets a B+ (At times, there is a lot of grain particles. This is common of most 80's movies, though.) The disc claims it has been remastered, which it has. I rented the previous version and watched this new one right next to it, and I could tell an incredible difference in picture quality and sound from the previous version. The special features aren't great (they get a D or a D-), maybe worth one view.
BOTTOM LINE: If you don't own the previous DVD, get this one by all means.
If you are a fan, and own the previous version, this new one is worth it for the picture and sound upgrade.
If you own the previous version, but don't care about picture or sound/ don't tend to double- dip on DVDs, skip this new release.
NOTE: I watched the new DVD on a HDTV through an HD DVD player. This improves the picture and sound quality from a non- High Def DVD player and/ or TV.
Fletch is a great comedy, and one of my favorite 80's films.
Hands Down.... - Rating: 5/5
This is Chevy's best movie. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Vacation is excellent, and so is the third installment Christmas Vacation; Caddyshack is better than Fletch, but it is because of the acting from Bill Murray, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, and Chevy Chase. Fletch is Chevy Chase!!
His delivery, one-liners, and body comedy is at its peak, which kind of makes you wonder why he crashed and burned so bad. Anyway, if you like Chevy Chase, you probably own this movie already...but if you like comedy and are serious about your movies, get this because you can watch it a million times and it never gets old. Mooooon river...
