CONFESS, FLETCH

US, 2022, 98 minutes, Colour.

Jon Hamm, Roy Wood Jr, Ayden Mayeri, Marcia Gay Harden, Lorenza Izzo, Kyle MacLachlan, Annie Mumolo, John Slattery, Lucy Punch.

Directed by Greg Motolla.

In the mid-80s, there were two film versions of novels by Gregory McDonald featuring his central character, Fletch. Fletch was an investigative journalist. And he was played, often in his very droll manner by Chevy Chase, giving the impression of his being a touch sleepy, yet charming.

Here we are, almost four decades later, this time with Jon Hamm playing Fletch. He doesn’t have the laid-back charm of Chevy Chase which was so individual and distinctive. However, he does play with something of the laid-back, touches of irony, a blend of the romantic hero as well as the private eye.

The initial action takes place in Italy, Fletch involved with a young woman, her aristocratic father having been conducted and a ransom demanded, paintings from his collection, including a Picasso. Fletch goes back to Boston to investigate the case, finding a dead woman in the apartment that he has been given, the mysterious owner appearing and disappearing. There are also several women connected with the mysterious owner, to rather kooky characters, and girlfriend with a scene where she absentmindedly and carelessly cooks, the other his wife, Fletch pretending to interview her for a high-class magazine.

The police are represented by Ray Wood Jr and Ayden Mayeri, he going to sleep on the job because of having to mind the baby at home, she, rather awkward, but better at finding out information – but, comically, not surveillance, Fletch always givin for a high-class magazine? G her the slip.

There is also the Countess, played by Marcia Gay Harden with a broken Italian accent. And the art dealer played by Kyle MacLachlan. He seems an obvious suspect – and he is.

Comic touches, especially with the editor of the paper and Fletch insinuating himself, his own investigations, a final confrontation with the killer – and a somewhat sardonic ending with Fletch distributing some of the artworks to various characters but keeping the Picasso for himself as he sails off into the sunset.

1. Memories of Chevy Chase in the 1980s? Gregory MacDonald’s novels? Murder mystery, investigation, twists and turns?
2. The settings, Rome and the Italian atmosphere, Boston, apartments, the streets, art dealers, police precincts? The musical score?
3. Jon Hamm as Fletch? His own style, irony, touch of the laconic, relationships, investigations, on the spot, intruding? Accused of murder, the police, solving the case, the final intrigue with the Count, the artworks? The solution, the aftermath, his retirement, the Picasso?
4. The situation in Italy, fletch and his reputation, the encounter with Angela, the situation with her father, the artworks, stolen, the ransom? The sexual liaison with Angela? Her staying in Italy, fletch and his return to Boston? The apartment, the owner, his appearing and disappearing, the dead woman?
5. Fletch, the apartment, the dead woman, her identity? The police, Monroe and his style, suspicions, in command, yet sleeping on the job, at home, looking after the baby? The contrast with Griz, small, awkward and tripping, yet a good detective, supplying information? Keeping surveillance on Fletch, his continually giving her the slip?
6. Fletch, his own investigations, the issue of the paintings, his detective work? With the rather kooky girlfriend and her bad cooking? The interview with the wife, his pretending to conduct an interview Going to the paper, the tough editor, offering an exclusive? Going to the art dealer, their interactions? The encounter with the Countess, her relationship with her kidnapped husband, issue of the ransom, the tension with her daughter? Moving in on Fletch?
7. Angela arriving, with Sylvia, her own investigations, Fletch following her? And the police and their continued detection?
8. Fletch, his surveillance, the boat, the old captain and their talk? The paintings?
9. The final setup, the confrontation, the art dealer, the boat, the paintings, the threats, shooting the old captain, the confrontation?
10. Sorting out the paintings, Fletch and Angela and the break, the revelation about Fletch as part in the kidnapping, the setup, the paintings?
11. Fletch and his distributing the paintings, keeping the Picasso, his retirement?