Chevy Chase was never cooler than he was in Fletch. Chase working with director Michael Ritchie and screenwriter Andrew Bergman transplanted the character, created by Greggory McDonald from Boston to Los Angeles and the LA Times Newsroom. The biggest issue with Fletch is that there is only one (inferior) sequel and not seven or eight entries that are as charming and entertaining as the original.
Irwin Fletcher aka Fletch (Chase) working on a story on the LA Beaches and Drug dealing. This brings Fletch into the gaze of Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) who proposes that the journalist kill Stanwyk for money. Stanwyk doesn’t know Fletch is Fletch but rather just a Venice beach druggie. As Fletch sees a killer story here, he doesn’t know how deep and dark this one goes. Adding in a corrupt police chief (Joe Don Baker), Stanwyk’s comely wife (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), and a killer Doberman you have the makings of a case that could end Fletch’s life before his next byline.
More of a vibe than an actual mystery, Fletch, is a classically built star vehicle. Every scene, line, beat, and action is in service of Chevy Chase. There isn’t a moment where Chase isn’t the most charismatic waspy superstar of the 1980s. Even in the “Moon River” moment, Chase is as cool as a cat in the middle of winter.
Bergman’s script does the heavy lifting of creating something that works for Chase based off of McDonald’s first novel. The script is a marvel considering that the novel is Boston/East Coast based and all the connotations therein. Adding in the skilled work of director Ritchie whose expertise was this kind of comedy mash-up adds that visual acumen that his best work had. In the end, it’s Chase who comes in swinging like he had never before or since.
Fletch remains a highwater mark in the star’s career.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive is a serious upgrade from the Blu-ray from 2017. There really isn’t a need to compare as the Kino transfer corrects all the issues with the original disc. The image is sharp with a beautiful filmic look that retains the grain structure. There is nary a scratch or blemish on the image. No digital issues like artificing or DNR. Fletch has never looked better on home video than it does here. Bravo to Kino.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
Just Charge it to the Underhills: Making and Remembering Fletch
The Disguises: From John Cocktoaston to Harry S. Truman
The all-new Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry begins with how they’ll approach their commentary for the film. Some of the details include that the film is based on the first novel (though chronologically it’s the fifth story); a discussion of the homeless problem at the time in Los Angeles – where the film was not just filmed by takes place – and how it plays out in the film; a discussion about the life and professional career of novelist Greggory McDonald who created Fletch; a discussion of producer Peter Douglas and his work to get the rights of Fletch and the development; the various casting what-if’s – including Mick Jagger; a discussion of the various aliases that Fletch uses in the film and the infamous and famous names he uses; the casting of Tim Matheson; a discussion of how director Ritchie and Chase worked as Matheson’s point of view; a discussion of production budget, schedule and other bits of about the making of the film; a great John Lennon story as told by Chevy Chase; the casting of Dana Wheeler-Nicholson – including a discussion about Richtie’s thoughts on screen testing actors; the way that Ritchie and Chase worked on the film; the post-production troubles that they had on the film; the cameo of Kareem Adbul-Jabbar – including a discussion of the Lakers that feature prominently; the change of the score and the changing to Harold Faltermeyer from Tom Scott; a larger discussion of the adaptation of the novel and the novels themselves – a discussion of the work done by Andrew Bergman; a larger discussion throughout about various anecdotes from the production via interviews with Ritchie – which included why Chase did not want to do interviews at the time; a larger discussion of the various locations and social references that go throughout the film; a larger discussion of the various actors that worked on the production – giving various anecdotal bits and other films they had been in; and much more. Reesman and Evry have given us a detailed and entertaining track to Fletch. One that leaves no question or factoid no matter how small discussed and examined. This track is definitely required listening.
Just Charge it to the Underhills: Making and Remembering Fletch (26:32) – the archival featurette is a making of from 2007. Everyone but Chevy shows up to discuss the making of the film. The opening begins with the featurette producer “finding his inner Fletch” and then dives into the novels, the development, the casting, the production, and the release. The featurette does a good job of covering all the bases. Featuring interviews with Actors M. Emmet Walsh, Richard Libertini, Tim Matheson, Screenwriter Andrew Bergman, Actors George Wyner, Larry Flash Jenkins, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Producers Alan Greisman, Peter Douglas, Editor Richard Harris, and more.
The Disguises: From John Cocktoaston to Harry S. Truman (4:53) – the archival featurette dives into the make-up and costumes that were created for Fletch’s disguises. Featuring interviews with Makeup Artist Ken Chase, Hair Stylist Bunny Parker, Screenwriter Andrew Bergman, Actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Tim Matheson, Larry Flash Jenkins, and others.
Favorite Fletch Moments (2:35) – this brief archival featurette is an edited clip of various one-liners.
Chevy Chase: Reba Merrill Profile (3:41) – this archival interview/profile from 1985 is exactly what you’d expect from an Entertainment Tonight style profile though a larger component of anti-drugs rhetoric that Chase became a proponent post John Belushi’s passing.
4 TV Spots (2:04)
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Fletch (1:35) [Newly Mastered in 2K]; Fletch Lives (1:35) [Newly Mastered in 2K]; Running Scared (1:30); The Experts (1:32); The Hard Way (2:04); The Couch Trip (1:14)
The Final Thought
Fletch is another great upgraded edition for a classic film from Kino Lorber. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
Chevy Chase was never better than he was in Fletch. The comedy mystery comes to Blu-ray with a new HD Master and extras from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Chevy Chase was never cooler than he was in Fletch. Chase working with director Michael Ritchie and screenwriter Andrew Bergman transplanted the character, created by Greggory McDonald from Boston to Los Angeles and the LA Times Newsroom. The biggest issue with Fletch is that there is only one (inferior) sequel and not seven or eight entries that are as charming and entertaining as the original.
Irwin Fletcher aka Fletch (Chase) working on a story on the LA Beaches and Drug dealing. This brings Fletch into the gaze of Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) who proposes that the journalist kill Stanwyk for money. Stanwyk doesn’t know Fletch is Fletch but rather just a Venice beach druggie. As Fletch sees a killer story here, he doesn’t know how deep and dark this one goes. Adding in a corrupt police chief (Joe Don Baker), Stanwyk’s comely wife (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), and a killer Doberman you have the makings of a case that could end Fletch’s life before his next byline.
More of a vibe than an actual mystery, Fletch, is a classically built star vehicle. Every scene, line, beat, and action is in service of Chevy Chase. There isn’t a moment where Chase isn’t the most charismatic waspy superstar of the 1980s. Even in the “Moon River” moment, Chase is as cool as a cat in the middle of winter.
Bergman’s script does the heavy lifting of creating something that works for Chase based off of McDonald’s first novel. The script is a marvel considering that the novel is Boston/East Coast based and all the connotations therein. Adding in the skilled work of director Ritchie whose expertise was this kind of comedy mash-up adds that visual acumen that his best work had. In the end, it’s Chase who comes in swinging like he had never before or since.
Fletch remains a highwater mark in the star’s career.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive is a serious upgrade from the Blu-ray from 2017. There really isn’t a need to compare as the Kino transfer corrects all the issues with the original disc. The image is sharp with a beautiful filmic look that retains the grain structure. There is nary a scratch or blemish on the image. No digital issues like artificing or DNR. Fletch has never looked better on home video than it does here. Bravo to Kino.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry begins with how they’ll approach their commentary for the film. Some of the details include that the film is based on the first novel (though chronologically it’s the fifth story); a discussion of the homeless problem at the time in Los Angeles – where the film was not just filmed by takes place – and how it plays out in the film; a discussion about the life and professional career of novelist Greggory McDonald who created Fletch; a discussion of producer Peter Douglas and his work to get the rights of Fletch and the development; the various casting what-if’s – including Mick Jagger; a discussion of the various aliases that Fletch uses in the film and the infamous and famous names he uses; the casting of Tim Matheson; a discussion of how director Ritchie and Chase worked as Matheson’s point of view; a discussion of production budget, schedule and other bits of about the making of the film; a great John Lennon story as told by Chevy Chase; the casting of Dana Wheeler-Nicholson – including a discussion about Richtie’s thoughts on screen testing actors; the way that Ritchie and Chase worked on the film; the post-production troubles that they had on the film; the cameo of Kareem Adbul-Jabbar – including a discussion of the Lakers that feature prominently; the change of the score and the changing to Harold Faltermeyer from Tom Scott; a larger discussion of the adaptation of the novel and the novels themselves – a discussion of the work done by Andrew Bergman; a larger discussion throughout about various anecdotes from the production via interviews with Ritchie – which included why Chase did not want to do interviews at the time; a larger discussion of the various locations and social references that go throughout the film; a larger discussion of the various actors that worked on the production – giving various anecdotal bits and other films they had been in; and much more. Reesman and Evry have given us a detailed and entertaining track to Fletch. One that leaves no question or factoid no matter how small discussed and examined. This track is definitely required listening.
Just Charge it to the Underhills: Making and Remembering Fletch (26:32) – the archival featurette is a making of from 2007. Everyone but Chevy shows up to discuss the making of the film. The opening begins with the featurette producer “finding his inner Fletch” and then dives into the novels, the development, the casting, the production, and the release. The featurette does a good job of covering all the bases. Featuring interviews with Actors M. Emmet Walsh, Richard Libertini, Tim Matheson, Screenwriter Andrew Bergman, Actors George Wyner, Larry Flash Jenkins, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Producers Alan Greisman, Peter Douglas, Editor Richard Harris, and more.
The Disguises: From John Cocktoaston to Harry S. Truman (4:53) – the archival featurette dives into the make-up and costumes that were created for Fletch’s disguises. Featuring interviews with Makeup Artist Ken Chase, Hair Stylist Bunny Parker, Screenwriter Andrew Bergman, Actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Tim Matheson, Larry Flash Jenkins, and others.
Favorite Fletch Moments (2:35) – this brief archival featurette is an edited clip of various one-liners.
Chevy Chase: Reba Merrill Profile (3:41) – this archival interview/profile from 1985 is exactly what you’d expect from an Entertainment Tonight style profile though a larger component of anti-drugs rhetoric that Chase became a proponent post John Belushi’s passing.
4 TV Spots (2:04)
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Fletch (1:35) [Newly Mastered in 2K]; Fletch Lives (1:35) [Newly Mastered in 2K]; Running Scared (1:30); The Experts (1:32); The Hard Way (2:04); The Couch Trip (1:14)
The Final Thought
Fletch is another great upgraded edition for a classic film from Kino Lorber. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Fletch is out May 7th
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