Posted: 02/08/2011

Fletch Lives Review

by Robert Baum

Review: Fletch Lives (1989)

Chevy Chase ventures into territory shared by a relative cinematic few: starring in another sequel (the first time the “Saturday Night Live” alumnus did so was as Clark Griswold in 1985s National Lampoon’s European Vacation and he also appeared as Ty Webb in last year’s below par Caddyshack II). Still such film franchise regulars as Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, and Sylvester Stallone need not worry about competition from Chase’s investigative scribe in Fletch Lives.
Seeking a change of scenery—which sadly deletes much of Chase’s editor (Richard Libertini) in the process—Fletch heads to Louisiana to claim an estate left to him by his recently-departed aunt. In the South, Fletch once again finds some shady dealings and risks life and limb to get to the bottom of the things.
Unfortunately the writing is nearly at the bottom of the barrel this time. Andrew Bergman, who penned the original, adapted from the Gregory MacDonald novel, isn’t here to provide the wit and words. The humor here is pretty much watered down and rehashed; which is somewhat of a surprise given that screenwriter Leon Capetanos has worked with Paul Mazursky on a few of his efforts, like the delightful 1984 tale Moscow on the Hudson.
The material here employs references to the PTL downfall and Mississippi Burning. The former has been beaten into the ground by the likes of Carson, Letterman, “Saturday Night Live,” and countless stand-up comics. The latter makes for a rather incongruous choice. The sight of Chase garbed in white robes to blend in with a contingent of Ku Klux Klansmen for some cheap laughs is thankfully brief but rather unnecessary. No doubt some might be reminded of Mel Brooks’ 1974 western spoof Blazing Saddles upon seeing Cleavon Little being among Chase’s co-stars (too bad Bergman, one of the writers of that film wasn’t the scenarist this time or an uncredited doctor on the script). When Chase is introduced to the more friendly locals, a few more racially-tinged jokes and a spate of lines implying a sense of ignorance among the townsfolk are dropped in for good measure.
With a such co-stars as Hal Holbrook, R. Lee Ermey, and Little, they do the best they can and were probably well-rewarded for their efforts. After coming off so strong in his his star-making role as the hated, hard-as-nails martinet of a Marine in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (and as the mayor in Mississippi Burning) as a Jim Baker-styled evangelist is amusing even though it wears thin rather quickly. Holbrook fares better. Julianne Phillips, recently one of John Ritter’s many objects of lust in Skin Deep, is appealing as one of the ladies Fletch romances but the only one who partakes in some of his antics, still her southern accent is a bit exaggerated.
The aforementioned Libertini is criminally underused this time. Getting a bit more time onscreen, even if it is for one scene more than in the first film, is George Wyner as the sleazy attorney for Fletch’s unseen ex-wife dogging the reporter for alimony payments.
Despite nearly a difference of four years between the first-installment and the follow-up, Fletch Lives feels a bit rushed and lacks the flair of the original in addition to the fun. Perhaps director Michael Ritchie, who did the original, should have passed and worked on another effort by one of Chase’s other fellow Not Ready for Prime Time Players, which he has done with Eddie Murphy (The Golden Child), Dan Aykroyd (The Couch Trip—which had Chase doing a cameo and Victoria Jackson in a supporting turn). Or at the very least a sequel as good as its predecessor. It’s a rare feat but surely the likes of Eastwood, Ford, and Stallone have been in more quality follow-up efforts than Chase.

Robert Baum is Currently a Bryn Mawr, PA-based film afficanado and pop culture junkie.

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