Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Confess, Fletch Blu-ray Movie Review

"But I am adorable."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 5, 2023

Can we just take a second and appreciate the gift to mankind that is Jon Hamm? Can't put my finger on precisely what it is, but somewhere between the charm, snark, humor, eye-twinkle, brow-steeling and gravitas, which co-exist in Hamm through some weird cosmic equilibrium, the Mad Men scene stealer is a gravitational well that draws in anyone who watches. Confess, Fletch -- the long gestating revival of a classic PI that hasn't appeared on screen since 1989's Fletch Lives, Chevy Chase's second and final portrayal of the character -- has gone through development hell for decades. Kevin Smith and Jason Lee were attached at one point, however promising or problematic that might have turned out, as were plenty of others. But it was finally Hamm and director/co-writer Greg Mottola who cracked the code with a psuedo-sequel/relaunch/reboot based on Gregory Mcdonald's 1976 novel of the same name. And yet... something feels off. Hamm is terrific, pitch perfect, now the quintessential Fletch in my mind. But the rest of the cast is often... sleepy. Almost checked out. Matching Hamm's performance, which suits Fletch to a T, but doesn't exactly make for a swirling comedy noir around his baseball-capped head. No one is bad, or phoning it in. It all just plays small, like a filler episode of a TV series, and the lack of real stakes holds the film back. Oh, there's a lot of fun to be had. Just don't expect a Fletch revival that'll pull the PI out of permanent cinematic retirement. This is a one-off at best, and by credits end, I was sad to realize Confess probably represents the detective's return to screen retirement.

In this delightful comedy romp, Jon Hamm stars as the roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome private detective Fletch, who becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit, from an eccentric art hound and missing playboy to a crazy tenant and Fletch's Italian girlfriend, Angela aka Andy (Lorenza Izzo). Crime has never been this disorganized. The film also stars John Slattery as Fletch's old boss and Boston Sentinel head Frank Jaffe, Roy Wood Jr. as dogged Sergeant Inspector Monroe, Marcia Gay Harden as Andy's stepmother the Countess, John Behlmann as murder-scene building owner Owen, Lucy Punch as Owen's ex-wife Tatiana, Annie Mumolo as Owen's wacko neighbor Eve, Ayden Mayeri as Junior Detective Griz, and Kyle MacLachlan as art dealer Ronald Horan.

There's no denying the chemistry the cast shares on screen. You can almost picture drinks between shooting scenes, laughter-filled dinners in the evenings after a long day, friends swapping stories at the table, movie stars sitting by the pool like ordinary folks. It's palpable throughout the entire movie. Even when characters are in showdown mode, there's the sense that there's a real connection, a real affection, between the people behind Fletch and his ragtag band of investigators and suspects. And for quite some time, that lifts Confess to welcome heights, lending a legitimate bit of levity and hilarity to the silliness that transpires. (For the uninitiated, a love of silliness is a prerequisite to enjoying any Fletch outing.) Unfortunately, it all begins to wear too thin too fast. It's not that it spoils the film, or drags it down. It just hovers there, never really rising. Never really falling. Delighting but without upping the ante or bringing home a third act that seals any deal on who Fletch is, why we should care about this particular case, or why we should believe for a second he's in any danger of serving jail time.

And so it's left to Hamm to save each scene, lift each actor, bring heft to a weightless script, and charm an audience that's increasingly yawning between each chuckle. Hamm is Fletch, thank the movie gods, and he has a penchant for comedy that works and then some. Similar to his stints on SNL, he has a wink to every glance, a joke tucked away in every line only he knows the punchline to, a knack for finding the physical hijinks in the most common blocking. The bits between him and Mumolo's oblivious, accident-prone neighbor (how is this woman still alive?) are slapstick comedy gold, the gags of which are pure Vaudeville; something largely absent in modern age films. And somehow Hamm manages to keep things at a nice medium tone, without yukking it up too much or playing things too flat. His co-stars struggle, minus Slattery, Harden and Wood, who know exactly what Confess is meant to be. And the screenplay struggles to... well, to matter. Fletch fans will enjoy but yearn for more. Comedy fans will enjoy but begin to check out too early. Casual newcomers will wonder what all the Fletch-fuss is about, especially when they notice the brisk 90-minute flick at some point began to feel like a two-plus hour grind.

Confess, Fletch Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation certainly looks the part. Stylized, gold-toned hues flank convincing skintones and occasionally poppy hues to create a warm and inviting, suitably playful image full of throwback-genre verve and moxie. Black levels aren't exactly bottomless but are dark and brooding, perfect for the neo-noir overtones of the comedy. Likewise, detail doesn't come on too strong but is clearly as sharp and revealing as it was meant to be. Fine textures are crisp, edges are nicely defined, and delineation is quite good, particularly when Fletch finds himself sneaking around in the shadows of naturally lit nighttime apartments and other crime scenes. There also isn't any banding or other issues of note. Grain is a bit heavy at times but hails from the original photography. Altogether, it's a strong, deceptively effortless presentation that captures its filmmakers' intentions without much, if anything, to complain about.

Confess, Fletch Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Deceit is the name of the game with Paramount's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, which is so subtle and subdued at times that casual listeners might not even notice how good the film's sound design actually is. Voices are crystal clear, nicely weighty and grounded, and well prioritized within the soundscape, never overwhelmed by the film's effects or music. But its the rear channels that'll catch your attention. Pans are silky smooth, sure. Listen closer, though, and you'll notice how full and believable the soundfield is, whether it's the distant, muffled street noise through townhouse windows, the hustle and bustle just out of sight at a news office, the rustle of wind and leaves in a yard as Fletch slips past police tasked with watching him, or the lapping of waves during a meeting-gone-wrong on a yacht. Again, you couldn't be faulted for shrugging your shoulders, but there's soundfield art at work here. Add to that equally stealthy but no less notable LFE support and pinpoint directionality and you have a lossless experience that earns its keep.

Confess, Fletch Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No special features? With an iconic slacker PI like Fletch? Come on, Paramount. Show some love!

Confess, Fletch Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Confess, Fletch is somehow everything I wanted and not enough. I love Fletch. I love the Chevy Chase movies. I've even read a book or two of his misadventures. And I love Jon Hamm in the title role. But the movie at his back doesn't propel him nearly as far as his performance pulls up the rest of his surroundings. Hamm is brilliant casting for Fletch. The PI with a heart of meh, though, deserves better than the small stakes case he's given here. Thankfully, Paramount delivers an excellent AV presentation that doesn't miss a beat. Until, that is, you search for special features and find none. Fans will be pleased. Newcomers will be split.