Fletch (1985) ****1/2

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 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.