Search - Fletch on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1985 DVD Release: 08/19/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 18 Genres: Comedy, Comedy Thriller See Also: Fletch: The Jane Doe Edition [Special Edition], Fletch [HD DVD], Fletch

Chevy Chase added a classic comic hero to the film landscape with Fletch, one of his few truly popular star vehicles in a famously misguided post-Saturday Night Live career. Chase plays Irwin M. Fletcher, known to everyone as Fletch, a Los Angeles Lakers-loving investigative reporter with a gleeful disdain for deadlines and a knack for pushing the buttons of his frustrated editor (Richard Libertini). He's also known for donning numerous disguises and assuming zany false identities to help gain information. While pursuing an ongoing story about a powerful drug dealer who operates from Venice Beach, he comes across an intriguing offshoot in which he becomes intimately involved. Aviation executive Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) has an unusual proposition for Fletch: If Fletch agrees to an elaborate plan to kill him, for reasons Stanwyk refuses to divulge beyond explaining that he has bone cancer, Fletch will walk away with a healthy sum of money and a plane ticket to Brazil. Curious yet suspicious by profession, Fletch begins investigating Stanwyk's true motives, which leads him through numerous misadventures. Among them are a visit to a stuffy country club; a high-speed car chase with an unwitting passenger; repeat encounters with Stanwyk's wife (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), although she may not be his only one; and a trip to Provo -- that's Utah, not Spain. Inspired by a novel of the same name by Gregory McDonald, Fletch went from thriller to comedy as it was adapted into a vehicle for Chase. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide

Chevy Chase - I.M. Fletcher
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson - Gail Stanwyk
Tim Matheson - Alan Stanwyck
Joe Don Baker - Chief Karlin
Richard Libertini - 'Frank' Walker

Chevy Chase is a wisecracking reporter in the comedy Fletch. The film is presented in a decent 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that features vibrant colors and solid black levels. While the transfer displays a few imperfections (including some color muting, dirt, and edge enhancement), overall this is a fine picture that should please fans. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround in both English and French. The soundtrack is very much on par with the video presentation -- while serviceable, it's certainly nothing spectacular. Fidelity and Surround sounds are very minimal with hiss and distortion almost always absent. Also included on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles. Fans of Fletch will be very disappointed to see the film get such shoddy DVD treatment when it comes to bonus materials -- the only extra features available on this disc include a few pithy production notes, some cast and crew bios, and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide