73/100
Info:
- Run time: 1 hour 38 minutes
- Studio: Miramax
- Director: Greg Mottola
- Where to Watch: Prime Video ($)
Review:
Confess, Fletch is a movie that has hung out in the back of my mind for a few weeks. I watched it way back in September and never got around to writing about it. Now it’s November and I find myself sitting at my local coffee shop typing away in public like an ass, sipping on 90% creamer and 10% coffee, grinding out content for the masses. My notes are pretty sparse and as I sit back and think about it, I think I know why. It’s because Confess, Fletch is a simple 100 minute movie about a funny, suave man who just does what he does everyday. It’s not inventive or fresh, just average. But in a world of mostly garbage, is average bad?
Jon Hamm stars as the titular Fletch, an extroverted investigative journalist who consistently sticks himself right in the middle of danger and deceit. His smooth delivery of lines and comedic chops are on full display and make for a remarkably funny character. Having no experience with the Chevy Chase version, I can confidently say that others in the same situation will enjoy his performance. For those audience members who were enamored with Chevy Chase in the 70s and 80s, I can’t predict one way or the other how you’ll feel. My sample size of people who have seen both is 1 and his reaction was positive so there’s that I guess?
The supporting cast of Roy Wood Jr., Ayden Mayeri, Lorenza Izzo, and Kyle MacLachlan is an eclectic mix of styles and personalities. Together, they add up to something very enjoyable. Wood Jr and Mayeri make for an awesome veteran / rookie detective combination that constantly get screwed with by Hamm’s Fletch. They take it in stride and the interactions that these two have with everybody else are less bumbling idiot cops, more jaded and self-aware. Lorenza Izzo plays Angela, Fletch’s fiancé and isn’t some helpless damsel in distress either, which is a pleasant surprise for someone unfamiliar with the franchise. And lastly, MacLachlan is always a pleasure to watch work on screen. His performance as the EDM loving, germaphobe alleged art thief is excellent.
The story itself is what loses me. It’s just average. The drama is average. It seems to be high stakes, somebody’s life is on the line after all, but the sense of urgency isn’t there. It is a comedy, but there can still be some sense of impending doom or racing against the clock. It’s just not there. The complexity of the overall story is average. It’s not engaging enough to be intelligent, but it’s not stupid enough to be condescending towards the audience either. It’s no surprise that this movie didn’t get a wider release or much press. It just came out of nowhere and seems to be finding a foothold in the streaming landscape amongst fans of the original or people like me who randomly stumbled upon it. That said, there are plenty of laughs and witty dialogue that fans of detective-esque mystery movies will enjoy.
The nuts and bolts that create Confess, Fletch are average again, but so is most of the modern-day movie landscape. The soundtrack pulls heavily from the 70s /80s vibe of the original movies, with great undertones to make it feel almost tongue-in-cheek. Visually, it’s not very impressive either. Lots of mundane visuals and uninspired camerawork.
Confess, Fletch is an average movie, starring an average cast, with an average reception on my part. It’s got funny moments, but I don’t really relate to the character all that much. It’s probably an age thing, and that’s OK. It’s fun, quick, and relatively engaging. if you’ve got nothing else to do an need to kill 90 minutes, this is a great way to spend the time. But don’t expect too much.
