Chevy Chase, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Joe Don Baker

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, Los Angeles journalist, really lives for his profession. As Jane Doe, he publishes articles that have caused several heads to roll in the past. Now, Fletch is at it again: In ...( read more  read more... )disguise as a bum, he lives at the beach, researching drugs and their dealing. One day, Fletch is addressed by Alan Stanwyk, a rich man, who asks him, the bum, a favour. For the sum of $50,000, Fletch should kill poor cancer-ridden Mr. Stanwyk with a gun, so that his wife will get the insurance money. What the guy didn't think of was Fletch's real profession. Returning into normal life, Fletch instantly takes up research not only to find out that Mr. Stanwyk is healthy as life itself but he also runs into certain connections between drug dealing at the beach, Alan Stanwyk, his private jet, the police and a very expensive piece of Land in Utah.

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81% liked it

17,462 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

27 critics

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Michael Ritchie

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: August 18, 1998

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Stats: 1,788 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,788)


  • September 4, 2009
    A classic comedy with Chevy Chase playing a reporter who investigates a millionnaire's offer to kill him. Chevy is perfect in roles like these, while still on blow and actually taking good, funny parts. What happened? Shoot me, but I still like the sequel a bit better.
  • December 18, 2008
    Not quite the Fletch from the books but pretty enjoyable nevertheless. Who doesn't love a wiseass busting swindlers, fatcats and murderers?
  • November 19, 2008
    Fletch is based on the novels by Gregory McDonald that follow the exploits of a Los Angeles investigative reporter that goes by the by-line of Jane Doe. Chevy Chase stars in the title role in this first film that follows Fletch on a story about drugs on the public beaches and the...( read more) odd request by a businessman (Tim Matheson) to kill him because of an illness. Both stories play out as the film rolls on until they become intertwined by the end.

    Fletch is by far Chevy Chase's best film, mainly because of the control and compromise of director Michael Ritchie. Sure Chase gets to ad lib, but Ritchie holds the structure together in the long run and the film holds a silly noir feel that even though you could think of it as a parody of noir films, it really isn't. It's just the world that Fletch has fallen into.

    Most '80's film age terribly, yet Fletch maintains a timeless feel even with references to the '80's Lakers and the soundtrack that is deeply trenched in the '80's. It's still a classic film and the best example of Chevy Chase at his best.
  • August 24, 2008
    It ain't funny... It's reasonably amusing. Never once did I laugh out loud. It ain't crap but there are so many better 80's comedies out there.
  • August 19, 2008
    There is no one quite cooler, then Irwin Fletcher. Weather he's portraying Dr. Rosenpenis, Dr. Rosen, John Cocktoston, Arnold Babar,Fletch F. Fletch, or Frieda's boss; he will keep you in stitches the entire time.
  • October 21, 2009
    coul;d have been better.
  • October 20, 2009
    You won't see many movies like Fletch, an at-times uproarious comedy that also works as a compelling mystery! Would be more at home in the 1930s or 1940s, a definite oddity for 1985. If you can embrace both aspects, you're in for good time. A terrific comedic performance from...( read more) Chevy Chase, probably the best role of his career as he plays investigative reporter Irwin Fletcher who dons a variety of disguises to get the story. And he will not have his wages garnisheed.
  • September 16, 2009
    Remember Chevy Chase when he was funny? Me neither. But there was a time....
  • August 24, 2009
    sooooooetc funny!
    u should watch it - both of them! lol
  • July 28, 2009
    "Ask anybody." "Can I ask anybody right now?"

Critic Reviews


October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Whenever the move threatens to work, there's Chevy Chase with his monotone, deadpan cynicism, distancing himself from the material. full review

View more Fletch reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Fletch Trivia


  • Who played the lead in Fletch and Fletch 2?  Answer »
  • Complete the quote from the movie "Fletch": "Can I borrow your towel? My car just hit a..."  Answer »
  • In the movie "Fletch," Irwin Fletcher did NOT use this name:  Answer »
  • In "Fletch", which person does Chevy Chase NOT use as an alias?  Answer »

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