‘Fletch’ (1985)
With the news that a rebooted version of Fletch is currently in production —and starring Jon Hamm!— now is a great time to revisit Chevy Chase’s two-picture run as the titular investigative reporter, Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher. 1985’s Fletch is a showcase of Chase at the peak of his powers, a masterclass that puts his comedic confidence (cockiness?), character work, charisma, and charm front and center. It’s also a twisty little bit of hardboiled mystery that pairs nicely with Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye; there’s definitely a streak of Elliot Gould’s Philip Marlowe in Chase’s performance.
That said, all of the things that come off as effortless in Fletch quickly grate in 1989’s Fletch Lives, a putrid, try-hard sequel that attempts to up the ante but instead took a wrecking ball to the prospects of this potential franchise. If you’ve made it this far in your life without seeing Fletch Lives, my recommendation to you is to keep the streak alive.