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Fletch
R2 - United Kingdom - Fabulous Films Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (12th February 2016). |
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The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** “Fletch”, based on a novel by Gregory McDonald, is a murder-for- laughs-thriller. Until last week, Fletch (Chevy Chase) was just another mild mannered reporter fighting for the truth, justice and a window office. But things change when he goes undercover as a minor league junkie to trace dome drug traffickers. Whilst on this assignment he meets Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) who says he is dying of bone cancer and asks Fletch to murder him, so that his wife will benefit from the insurance. Stanwyk it seems has arranged the perfect crime - a feigned robbery, a getaway Jaguar and a first class ticket to Rio... But something doesnʼt seem quite right. And as he dons various guises in an attempt to discover the truth, Fletch finds himself being threatened, shot at, accused and arrested. And thatʼs by the people heʼs trying to help!
Video
Independent British distributor continue their full slate of Universal ports with the much-loved Chevy Chase comedy "Fletch". The feature receives an anamorphic transfer at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (original aspect ratio is 1.85:1). Like similar catalogue titles from the eighties, this transfer isn't going to win any awards, but it does the job. For a film as revered as "Fletch", which has actually been released on Blu-ray (review by Jeremiah HERE), it is surprising that Universal don't have a particularly great master to work from, but that isn't to say this release is poor. There is some consistent damage running throughout the print, usually just minor flecks of dirt and artefacts, but nothing particularly major with the worst bit of damage at 32:58 with a split second fracture just as Fletch is beaten up by a couple of cops at the beach. This scene also shows the biggest issue with this transfer - the lack of shadow details. Instead of being able to see down the darkened alley, the blacks of Fletch's clothing and the surrounding darkness crush and become a blob of black. Other details are as moderate as expected, with close-ups faring much better than mid to long range shots. Some light yet barely noticeable banding can be seen in long range shots at the beach, and there is some slightly awkward shimmer at times as well as aliasing. Whilst some of these problems are more noticeable than others, it never gets close to being off-putting. Hopefully Universal will eventually dig deep and treat us all to a nice new shiny master, though with no big anniversary for the film in sight, I won't keep my hopes up. The feature is uncut and runs 93:59 PAL.
Audio
Fabulous Films have provided us with a single English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track for this release. A nice addition would be a slight upmix to 2.0 Surround for that awesome 80s synth score which is an obvious rip off of the one used a year earlier for Beverly Hills Cop, but the stereo track does what is required. Dialogue is clear at all times, and although channel separation is minimal, when it does occur directionality is good. Some effects - like the police sirens as the cops chase Fletch in the Porsche at the 60-minute mark - sound a little quiet and could have been more prevalent, but at the same time, the effects are fighting the score and the dialogue for pride of place, leaving more action-packed scenes a little flat. There is no damage to speak of, and no background hiss. Subtitles are available in Danish, Dutch, English HoH, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish.
Extras
Just a theatrical trailer (1:20).
Overall
Whilst Jeremiah wasn't a fan when he reviewed the US Blu-ray, I am one of many who really enjoys this one. The disc is a port of the older Universal release, so there is no improvement on the mediocre technical presentation we had before.
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