Chevy Chase is D.O.A and AWOL

FLETCH LIVES (1989)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

(Originally reviewed in 1989)

There are two exceptionally funny scenes in "Fletch Lives." The wisecracking reporter who is always disguising himself and his voice, Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Chevy Chase), interrupts a KKK group by pretending to be one of them. He cozies up to them, performing some ritual that includes bopping one of them on the head - "It's a California thing." There is also an inspired bit where Fletch dreams a "Song of the South" song rendition of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" with animated birds and the like. As I said, two funny scenes in a dreary 98-minute sequel to a riotous 1985 flick that is among Chevy Chase's best comedies.

"Fletch Lives" can't even deliver with the fake Fletch disguises (a blonde wig and using the name Peggy Lee Zorba is among the worst) and a plot that takes itself too seriously. The Deep South and televangelists could've been comic gold but as written by Leon Capetanos (replacing the talented Andrew Bergman from the original), it doesn't exactly tap into the material and exploit it. A whole hour can pass by and you'll hardly elicit a smile, especially with reliable pros like Hal Holbrook and R. Lee Ermey who seem to occupy a different movie. And what is so damn funny about Fletch finding a dead woman in bed with him (played by the wonderful Patricia Kalember of "thirtysomething" fame), whom he just slept with the night before, and having him utter the line, "Well, she was good but not that good." The Fletch from the original film would not have reacted in such a cold-blooded manner.

The original "Fletch" was smart, fast-paced and funny as hell, but it also helped that Chevy Chase made Fletch a human and sympathetic character who was also quick on his feet and could improvise his way out of any situation. This sequel has the late Cleavon Little playing a semi-stereotyped character named Calculus Entropy, and Chevy Chase essentially walks through the movie. Actually, he limps.