Fletch Lives

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Fletch Lives

PG

Released Mar 17, 1989

1h 34m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Chevy Chase) is one of the best investigative reporters in the country, and he'll need all his skill when he becomes the main suspect in a murder case. After inheriting a Louisiana plantation from a distant relative, Fletch makes the journey from Los Angeles to check it out. When he winds up in bed with a lawyer -- who in turn winds up dead the next morning -- Fletch has to solve the crime before he ends up behind bars for someone else's misdeed.

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Critics Consensus

Chevy Chase remains ideally suited for the role, but Fletch Lives lacks its predecessor's wit, relying instead on silly disguises, cheap stereotypes, and largely unfunny gags.

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Boyd Farrow

Empire Magazine

Funny and inventive vehicle for Chevy Chase's hapless and genuinely funny comic creation.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 1, 2015

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Chris Willman

Los Angeles Times

In this meager sequel, as in its popular predecessor, Chevy Chase demolishes every easy target in sight with a quip of the tongue. Some of the lines are funny, but after a while you just want to smack him.

Jul 1, 2015

Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Being so sour about Fletch makes one feel like Kvetch, but seriously, is all it takes to be a screen comic the ability to flare the nostrils and to fall down?

Rated: 2/4

Jul 1, 2015

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…the Fletch package still holds as a means of delivering Chevy Chase to his eager public….perhaps some discomfort with the edgy content provides an explanation why the rise of Fletch stopped here with Fletch Lives...

Rated: 3/5

May 9, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A disappointing sequel, with a drowsy murder-mystery at its center and obvious satiric targets that are impossible to miss.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 28, 2024

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Candice Russell

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

With the exception of an elaborate fantasy sequence straight out of a Disney movie and a running gag about a Cadillac without brakes, Fletch Lives should have been called Fletch Staggers.

Jul 1, 2015

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Gareth v

While Chevy Chase is perfectly suited to the role of Fletch, this sequel is a lazy effort that is in no way as good as the original.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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Stephen C

Garbage that's not funny in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $32,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

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D C

The first was a classic for me and this just continues it on.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

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karl n

Maybe I'm simple but I laugh my head off on these.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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joel h

Fletch Lives is a fantastic sequel. It's just as entertaining as the original movie. Admittedly, I grew up watching this movie, and I know that some people don't find it as funny as I do. Nevertheless, I can't help but grin almost the entire time and I can quote almost the entire film. I think Chevy Chase is at his prime during the Fletch movies.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Close to just as good as its birth movie, a few goofier antics but it's pretty solid and has an even sexier leading lady.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Chevy Chase

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher

Hal Holbrook

Hamilton "Ham" Johnson

Julianne Phillips

Becky Culpepper

Cleavon Little

Calculus Entropy

R. Lee Ermey

Jimmy Lee Farnsworth

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Microscopic Termites

2:08

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Elmer Fudd Gantry

1:54

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Ben Dover

2:15

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Welcome Home, Fletch

2:13

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Meet the KKK

2:30

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - T'boo Ted, Hemorrhoid Sufferer

2:11

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Sneaking Into the Morgue

2:13

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Plantation Dreams

2:17

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Fletch Quits

2:17

Fletch Lives: Official Clip - Saved!

2:28

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Synopsis

Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Chevy Chase) is one of the best investigative reporters in the country, and he'll need all his skill when he becomes the main suspect in a murder case. After inheriting a Louisiana plantation from a distant relative, Fletch makes the journey from Los Angeles to check it out. When he winds up in bed with a lawyer -- who in turn winds up dead the next morning -- Fletch has to solve the crime before he ends up behind bars for someone else's misdeed.

Director: Michael Ritchie
Producer: Alan Greisman, Peter Douglas
Screenwriter: Leon Capetanos
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 17, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.9M
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround

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