Fletch fans rejoice! Comedy great Chevy Chase (¡Three Amigos!) returns to the screen as the reckless I.M. Fletcher, investigative reporter, in Fletch Lives. This time, the chameleon-like reporter ventures to Belle Isle, a sprawling 80-acre Louisiana plantation that Fletch inherits from his aunt. Trouble begins when a lovely attorney mysteriously turns up dead, a neighborly lawyer (Hal Holbrook, Creepshow) warns him to leave town, and a ravishing real estate agent comes calling with a persistent offer he may not be able to refuse. Fletch must unravel the reasons for the mad land scramble with his trademark bag of hilarious disguises in this fast-moving comedy-mystery. Directed by Michael Ritchie (Semi-Tough, The Couch Trip), written by Leon Capetanos (Down and Out in Beverly Hills) based on Gregory Mcdonald’s bestselling books, and sporting a spunky supporting cast with Julianne Phillips, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Libertini, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Cleavon Little, George Wyner, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Belzer and Phil Hartman.

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Video Quality

Kino Classics presents Fletch Lives with a favorable upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm Interpositive that looks quite nice. As with the debut film in the series, many fans were disappointed that this would not be getting a proper 4K UHD Blu-Ray release when it was announced. We understand the feeling, but this does improve upon the previous Blu-Ray from Universal released in 2017 which didn’t experience the problems of its predecessor but was still in need of an upgrade from the ancient master. This will not be mistaken for a 4K scan, but it looks the best it ever has on home entertainment.

The film features some deep colors within the southern locale that emanate off the screen with the appropriate vibrancy. Skin tones appear to be natural, and the presentation offers solid black levels that stay consistent even in darker corners. There is a notable uptick in fine detail that should please longtime fans. Subtle details in the environments, costumes, and set design are more prominent than ever. The previous release was not plagued with DNR or edge enhancement, but this new transfer showcases the stunning natural film grain in an improved state free of any compression artifacts or other such damage. The grain always resolves naturally without swarming or clumping. The film has been refreshed to eliminate obvious signs of damage or debris. Kino Classics has treated this well.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that executes the soundscape without a hiccup. Dialogue and background noises are balanced agreeably with all competing elements. All of the sound effects and music appear to be authentic to the original intent. The score is in good shape as it avoids signs of weakness. Nothing ever clips the dialogue or other necessary information. This disc maintains first-rate fidelity no matter the controlled chaos on screen. The surround sound presentation is not very showy, but it adds some body to the music and rural sounds. This track shows no worrisome signs of age-related wear and tear such as hissing, drop-outs, or popping. The audio track does everything it is supposed to. There are also optional English SDH subtitles included.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry return for another great commentary track in which they delve into the production history of the film, how it compares to the source material, how the final film evolved from the initial script, the background of the performers, the dated elements of the film, the legacy of the feature since its release, and more.

Fletch Lives – Making-Of Featurette: A seven-minute archival featurette in which Chevy Chase and director Michael Ritchie discuss the latest adventure for the character.

Fletch Lives – Chevy Chase Profile: A nearly three-minute piece in which the two discuss the performance of Chase in the film.

Fletch Lives – Julianne Phillips Profile A two-and-a-half-minute look at the actress and her place in this sequel.

TV Spots: A three-and-a-half-minute collection of TV Spots is provided here.

Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided for Fletch Lives. There are also trailers provided for Fletch, Gotcha, The Nude Bomb, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, and Bird On A Wire.

Final Thoughts

Fletch Lives is not up to the level of the original film, but it has its amusing moments that are sold by the commitment of Chevy Chase. The movie wisely doesn’t try to carbon copy the events of the first outing, but the humor doesn’t seem quite as sharp or clever. This is simply a bit more lazy, but it makes us laugh when it needs to. Kino Classics has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a welcome A/V presentation and a fine assortment of supplemental features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the release to get. Recommended

Fletch Lives is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.