#13: Fletch (1985)
This week, the dads slide into the absurd world of Fletch, the 1985 mystery-comedy that gave Chevy Chase his most iconic role (and maybe his most chaotic wardrobe). Whether he’s undercover as a beach bum, a doctor, or someone named “Ted Nugent,” Irwin M. Fletcher is always armed with a fake name, a deadpan insult, and at least one outrageous lie.
Steve and Nic dig into what makes this offbeat comedy work: Chase’s one-of-a-kind rhythm, the script’s tangled noir-lite plot, and the way the film somehow balances slapstick with cynicism. There’s debate over which of Fletch’s aliases is the most unhinged, plenty of love for Harold Faltermeyer’s synthy score, and a real-time reckoning with how not undercover Fletch actually is.
Is this a relic of its time or a sly, still-rewatchable gem? Either way, it’s vintage Chase: full of one-liners, disguises, and a complete disregard for journalistic ethics.
