Themes: Assumed Identities, Members of the Press, Amateur Sleuths
Main Cast: Chevy Chase, Hal Holbrook, Julianne Phillips, Cleavon Little, R. Lee Ermey
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Though the original Fletch was drubbed by critics, it proved a major success for star Chevy Chase. It was inevitable, then, that a sequel would make an appearance. Surprisingly, Fletch Lives didn't come out until 1989--a full five years after the original. Once more, Chase stars as Irwin Maurice "Fletch" Fletcher, the gonzo investigative reporter created by novelist Gregory McDonald. Indulging his penchant for disguises and bizarre aliases, Fletch investigates a deep dark mystery at a crumbling Southern plantation. Various friends and enemies are portrayed con brio by Hal Holbrook, Cleavon Little, Juliane Phillips, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Richard Libertini and Richard Belzer (Chase's cohort from the old Groove Tube days). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Patricia Kalember - Amanda Ray Ross; Richard Libertini - Frank Walker; Randall "Tex" Cobb - Ben Dover; George Wyner - Gillet; Geoffrey Lewis - KKK Leader; Richard Belzer - Phil; Don Brockett - Sheriff; Dennis Burkley - Joe Jack; Walter Charles - Tony; Bruce R. Elliott - Info Technician; Patrick Farrelly - O'Reilly; Grace Gaynor - Mrs. Underhill; Charlie Holliday - Security Guard; Don Hood - Tom Barbour; Marcella Lowery - Selma; Jordan Lund - Deputy Sheriff; Tom McCleister - Klansman; Dick McGarvin - Announcer; Michael P. Moran - Morgue Attendant; Constance Shulman - Cindy Mae; Robert Silver - Kakakis Brother; Ebbe Roe Smith - Jim Bob; R. David Smith - Gordon Joe; William Traylor - Mr. Underhill; Titos Vandis - Uncle Kakakis; John Wylie - Accountant; Phil Hartman - Bly Manager; Barney D. Arceneaux - Party Guest; Roy Babich - Klansman; Mary Battilana - Bly Assistant; Noelle Beck - Betty Dilworth; Robert M. Dawson - Tour Guide; Darren Dublin - Ancient Copy Boy; Richmond Harrison - T'boo Ted; Catherine Hearne - Lyda Perl; Christian Kauffmann - Bruce; Matthew Kimbrough - Bly Guard; Clarence M. Landry - Damon Feather; Patricia G. McConnell - Deputy's Wife; Louis M. Rapaport - Walter Bob Buggem
Credit
Cameron Birnie - Art Director, Jimmie Bly - Art Director, Steven W. Graham - Art Director, Don Woodruff - Art Director, Michael Smuin - Choreography, Peter Vincent Douglas - Co-producer, Alan Greisman - Co-producer, Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer, Michael Ritchie - Director, Richard A. Harris - Editor, Harold Faltermeyer - Composer (Music Score), Ken Chase - Makeup, Michael Mills - Makeup, Thomas Miller - Makeup, Stephen Hendrickson - Production Designer, Gregory McDonald - Production Designer, John McPherson - Cinematographer, Bob Larson - Producer, Bruce Bodner - Producer, Susan Bode-Tyson - Set Designer, Gary Fettis - Set Designer, Clifford P. Wenger - Special Effects, Chuck Waters - Stunts, Hugh A. O'Brien - Stunts, Walter Bernstein - Screenwriter, Leon Capetanos - Screenwriter, Gregory McDonald - Book Author
A clip from the film was used to open the December 10, 2008 episode of The Daily Show, in which Ben Dover (played by Randall Cobb) names his crime, "molesting a dead horse." Host Jon Stewart joked that this was the only offense with which Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was not charged.
Chevy Chase once again plays the reporter Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher, who learns that he has inherited a plantation in Louisiana. Once arriving, Fletch's Aunt's lawyer is murdered, leaving Fletch to unravel the mystery.
In order to catch the real killers and clear his name, Fletch dons a series of disguises and infiltrates the congregation of television evangelist Jimmy Lee Farnsworth (whose techniques are virtually identical to those used by real-life televangelist Peter Popoff), who wants to gain control of Fletch's land in order to build a Christiantheme park.
