FLETCH LIVES (1989)

After cashing in at the box office with the first film, the filmmakers decided to drop the appealing BEVERLY HILLS COP vibe and the exciting Los Angeles settings and replace it with our hero Fletch investigating illegal toxic chemical dumping in a dank Louisiana swamp. Yeah, that’s what audiences wanna see: tired ass Deep South racism jokes and toxic waste humor. And, I guess, it was because FLETCH LIVES was the #1 film in America two weeks in a row.

Fletch’s aunt dies and leaves him a “mansion” (in Jerkwater, Louisiana) that’s so rickety and dilapidated that it’d probably fall over if a raccoon farted on it. But, since photography had not been invited yet in 1989, Fletch doesn’t know about the state of the mansion and instead goes there to retire. Once there, in classic movie storytelling fashion, he immediately bones the first woman he sees and is then arrested for her murder when she turns up dead the next morning. Rape humor, KKK jokes, bigoted small town cop comedy, Nazi knee-slappers and hemorrhoid rib-ticklers ensue.

I remember seeing FLETCH LIVES back in 1989 and not being impressed. It's even less impressive now. I was really hoping that upon a re-visit that I’d understand more of the adult-oriented humor and the movie would be funnier. Nope! I did get all the jokes this time around, they're just not funny. That said, I was impressed by the (male heavy) cast, but sadly, the talents of Cleavon Little, R. Lee Ermey, Phil Hartman, Hal Holbrook and Geoffrey Lewis were all wasted here.

Worth a watch, if you're in the mood for a forgettable, lazy rainy afternoon time-waster.

Part 1 - Fletch (1985)
Reboot - Confess, Fletch (2022)

THE FIRM (1993)

Law student Tom Cruise is a big ol’ dummy.  He might be smart enough to graduate from Harvard Law School, but he must have just got off last night’s bus from Stupidsville when he decided to take a job at an evil law firm populated by “all white, all male, all married” nerds who look like they just stepped out of THE STEPFORD WIVES.  Things go peachy for a few days, but then before you can say “I wish a hyped-up black church choir would cover Boston’s ‘Let Me Take You Home Tonight’.” ol’ Tommy Cruise is running super fast all over the joint, sweatin’ up a storm, with none other than a long-haired, albino Jigsaw economically jogging behind him with a surprisingly smooth gait.

I’m by no means an expert (on anything) on legal thrillers from the 1990’s, but THE FIRM seemed fine to me.  The 154-minute runtime passed by quickly enough and I was entertained from beginning to end.  Also, the cast was very impressive!  If I had to make some complaints, it would be that the evil law firm wasn’t evil enough.  Also, the Memphis setting was dull and unattractive to look at.  And that piano-heavy soundtrack!  Oh my god, I love the piano, but that was too goddamn much!

Overall, THE FIRM is too safe for its own good, but still watchable thanks to an outstanding cast.