After becoming the prime suspect in multiple murders, Fletch strives to prove his innocence while simultaneously searching for his fiancé’s stolen art collection.
Pam says:
We’ve got a whodunnit with Jon Hamm reprising the role of “Fletch” who you may remember Chevy Chase in the original. Based on the books by Gregory McDonald, Fletch comes back to life, making us laugh as we attempt to discover the mystery of a woman found dead in his newly rented luxury apartment , along with a bottle of wine and a note. Detective Monroe (Roy Wood, Jr.) and his trainee Griz (Ayden Mayeri) are on the scene, suspecting Fletch of this heinous crime, but Fletch, fancying himself an investigator/investigative reporter, insinuates himself into the process of solving this mystery.
Fletch quickly learns that his girlfriend Angela’s (Lorenza Izzo) wealthy father has been kidnapped; the ransom, a famed and missing Picasso. The murder and the painting must be related and Fletch is here to solve this mystery.
The charming yet frequently bumbling reporter is lead down several paths, meeting and interviewing a crazy cast of characters who all add to the mystery and fun. From his unreliable and slightly suspicious girlfriend Angela to her step-mother The Countess (Marcia Gay Harden) and the babbling next door neighbor Eve (Annie Mumolo), it’s a fast-paced adventure that we thoroughly enjoy tagging along.
Hamm is his own version of Fletch and while there are certainly similarities in personality to the outrageous Chevy Chase version, it’s more subdued and not quite so slapstick. There’s more of a focus on the script and playing it straight which gets the laughs. Hamm’s comedic abilities show us what a versatile actor he is and with a supporting cast the likes of Wood, John Slattery, Harden, and Kyle MacLachlan, you know you’re in for a good time.
The story itself has a few twists and turns that may even surprise you as you chuckle. Director Greg Mottola finds the right tone and sticks with it as Hamm — dare I say — hams it up. Yes, he’s having fun as is Harden with her over-the-top accent, pronouncing Fletch as Flesh, attempting on numerous occasions to sleep with him, blaming him for hitting on her.
“Confess, Fletch” is perfect escapism, never taking itself seriously, yet still remembering there’s a story to tell.
3 stars
Chuck says:
Sometimes an actor is cast in a role so perfect for them, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing that part. Such is the case with Jon Hamm in “Confess, Fletch,” an adaptation of the Gregory McDonald novel that reboots the truncated two-feature franchise that starred Chevy Chase in the 1980’s. While Chase’s approach had a cynical and at times mean-spirited edge, Hamm takes a good-natured, laid-back tack that makes for a much more likable anti-hero. His performance, as well as those of the entire cast under the watchful eye of director Greg Mottola (“Adventureland”), contributes to a rather mirthful tone that bolsters what would have otherwise been a standard whodunnit.
To be sure, the film hits the ground running, Mottola not wasting any time setting up the MacGuffin that drives the plot. Fletch, “an investigative reporter of some import,” is hired by Italian heiress Angela (Lorenza Izzo) to track down numerous paintings belonging to her father that have been stolen. The only clue as to their whereabouts is a report that Horan (Kyle MacLachlan), an art dealer in Boston, is brokering a deal to sell one of them. So, off to Bean Town Fletch goes and promptly finds a murdered woman in the basement of the Airbnb Angela, now his girlfriend, arranged for him.
As Fletch attempts to clear his name, he contends with a parade of eccentrics who test his patience while providing fodder for his gentle, acerbic needling. Horan’s germaphobia make him a prime target for some passive aggressive ribbing, while the Countess (Marcia Gay Harden), Angela’s oversexed stepmother who shows up on Fletch’s doorstep, is as clueless as the day is long regarding the circumstances she’s stumbled into. (Harden’s pronunciation of our hero’s name as “Flesh” is a delight each time she utters it in her elongated, faux Italian accent.)
Perhaps most amusing is Fletch’s neighbor Eve, a delusional, constantly high flower child who proclaims she’s discreet but spills her guts at the drop of a hat regarding everyone she knows. Actress Annie Mumolo steals the one scene she has with Hamm, aimless wandering about her apartment, a steady stream of inappropriate revelations coming out of her mouth, blundering about with the intention of making dinner before inadvertently setting herself on fire. Hamm’s reactions to all of this are priceless and I laughed until I choked.
Of course, his prime foils prove to be Detective Monroe (Roy Wood Jr.) and his rookie partner Griz (Ayden Mayeri). With his wife having just given birth and a newborn in the house, the former is consistently sleep deprived, while the latter’s adherence to regulations leaves her open to being duped time and again by Fletch. Oh, and a Mad Men reunion occurs when John Slattery appears as a grizzled newspaper editor.
As for whodunit…well, in the end it really doesn’t matter. While not as convoluted or lost as Howard Hawks’ famously nonsensical “The Big Sleep,” solving the murder at its core becomes, perhaps not inconsequential, but of secondary concern. No, it’s the interactions we come to look forward to as we’re in the hands of not only a veteran cast, but one that’s having a good time. This proves infectious to the viewer and results in a breezy, disposable movie that will leave you smiling more than you anticipated.
What with so much up in the air regarding how films are distributed – this is inexplicably not playing widely in theaters – here’s hoping some way is found for Hamm and Mottola to tackle more of McDonald’s novels. If they prove to be half as fun as this, I’m on board for the entire run.
3 1/2 Stars
