Confess, Fletch (2022) ✦ Full-Length Watchalong Reaction
Added 2024-08-28 16:00:07 +0000 UTCHappy Hump Day everyone! Are we surprised that I'm bringing another reaction to a movie I'd never heard of? Nope. This one came through my Reactr page! Thank you so much to them for the request. A lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this one! Please enjoy and I'm looking forward to your comments. [Direct link here.]
✦ KL
Comments
@Tyler - Yeah I will be agreeing with Nate on this one, not only because you post plenty of spoilers in your comments to my watchalongs yourself, but that is the intention here is to discuss the movies in detail in these comments with me. Especially now that I'm doing the What We Watched videos. The Patreon posts can be easily bypassed if you have email notifications enabled for my page, as you can click the "Click here to watchalong" link in those emails that will take you right to the reaction video on my website.
kaiielle
2024-09-09 18:46:47 +0000 UTCThat's why I urge people to watch the movie before reading the comments because the comments talk about the movie, that's the whole point of the comments.
Nathan Jasper, the Artist Formerly Known as Primary
2024-08-30 17:12:36 +0000 UTCAnnie Mumolo, who plays the stoned neighbor, is most famous for co-writing Bridesmaids (which also had Jon Hamm). She appeared briefly in the movie as the woman on the airplane who is paranoid about the plane crashing, and who is seated next to her co-writer and star Kristen Wiig. She also had a brief cameo in Barbie as a woman at the school who explains to Barbie what anxiety is, and complains to Ken that "kids don't take it out on the dads!" She and Wiig recently reteamed for another movie that, like Confess Fletch, was kind of overshadowed by the pandemic, called Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. It's absurd and over-the-top, and while I like Bridesmaids plenty, I liked Barb and Star even more. Having now watched the movie, I enjoyed it, but I still think the 1985 movie was better. I went more into detail on Letterboxd, but mainly if the movie is going to make Fletch smarter than most people, then ideally it would make all of those characters smart and Fletch smarter, but this takes the easier route of making Fletch smart and surrounding him with characters that are easy punching bags. For me, this is why the scenes with Monroe, Griz, and his girlfriend Andi are much more entertaining, because he and the movie are not just being condescending to them. I would be shocked if it could get on the channel without a Reactr request, but another great underrated funny detective movie that I love is called Zero Effect (1998). I know I've put that one in your form. You would also probably really enjoy Brick (2005), which is the debut film by Knives Out writer/director Rian Johnson. Although it draws on the same detective-novel influences that Johnson is bringing to those films, it is much different, although still funny, as a hard-boiled noir that also happens to be set in a Los Angeles high school.
Tyler Foster
2024-08-30 17:05:27 +0000 UTCOne thing I would say to be careful about is whether your comments spoil a more obscure movie like this for other people. Something like The Sixth Sense, I get it, but I did catch the "charming villain" bit here before actually watching the movie (not that it severely impacted my enjoyment).
Tyler Foster
2024-08-30 16:55:37 +0000 UTCSaw this one a little while ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, which took me by surprise. Nice when that happens.
Steve Mercier
2024-08-28 20:10:09 +0000 UTCAlso, fun fact: for many years, between the 1985 movie and its sequel, there were attempts to make another Fletch movie. One of the most prominent attempts was made in the mid-2000s, when Kevin Smith was hired to write and direct it. He wanted to cast Jason Lee as Fletch, but the studio wouldn't bite, so he left the project. Zach Braff was also considered.
Tyler Foster
2024-08-28 19:41:24 +0000 UTCAh, I just read an article from the beginning of this month that says a changing of the guard at Miramax means no sequel to this. What a shame.
Tyler Foster
2024-08-28 19:39:37 +0000 UTCFirst time watch for me! It's crazy Jon Hamm is still known as the "Mad Men guy" when he's been in so many great movies. He can be dramatic, he can be comedic, he can do it all! Also, agreed with Fletch, the feet wanna be free! OMG Eve was so chaotic, I could NOT handle someone like that. It was pretty hilarious how she said rich people were oblivious when she herself was oblivious. Can Fletch go save the dog please? John Slattery is the actor who plays older Howard Stark in Iron Man 2, Ant-Man, and Avengers Endgame! Marcia Gay Harden is such a treasure. I don't understand how she can be so comical and so intimidating at the same time! I feel like Jon Hamm is about the only person who could show up to a party and bounce awkwardly and people wouldn't ask questions. Well, maybe David Tennant too. Next time I wanna get out of a conversation, maybe I should keep the relative-swam-into-a-propellor story on hand.... I loved how dry and quick-witted this film was. No joke or quip ever felt forced, nothing was rehashed, it was perfectly written, unlike this sentence which somehow has a comma splice AND a run-on. Ah, grammar! Kyle Mclachlan is such a charming villain. He reminds me a lot of Henry Czerny in that way. He's like... Schroedinger's villain. He both is and isn't a villain lol Apparently there were two Fletch films with Chevy Chase, however this was considered just a singular book adaptation rather than a continuation of Chevy's film adaptations. Now I'm interested to go back and check out Chevy's movies! As far as a different Jon Hamm role, check out Tag. That movie has no right to be as good as it is! Also Fargo season 5, Beirut, Baby Driver, and of course Mad Men. All fantastic Jon Hamm performances that feel a little different. I had a lot of fun with this, thanks for whoever requested it!
Nathan Jasper, the Artist Formerly Known as Primary
2024-08-28 18:31:14 +0000 UTCI believe the release of this movie was a victim of the pandemic. I also think maybe they have had some mild talks about making another one. I hope so, as I always enjoy detective films, especially if they incorporate a bit of comedy like this and the Knives Out movies, so even though I haven't watched this yet I'd be happy if they made more.
Tyler Foster
2024-08-28 17:59:11 +0000 UTCWhen you said it wasn't even on my watchlist I thought, "hmmm, like a 1/3 chance it's one I don't want to see," but this is one of the ones I do want to see and just haven't marked. I agree with BJ that you should definitely also check out the 1985 movie. Both are based on a long-running series of novels by Gregory McDonald, which I'd like to read. I like the 1985 movie, and I have heard this is very good. (There is also a sequel to the 1985 movie, but I watched and didn't like it, although I'll probably watch it again at some point just to give it another chance.)
Tyler Foster
2024-08-28 17:57:09 +0000 UTCHuh, interesting. I didn't know they made a new Fletch movie. Haven't checked this out yet, but honestly you should really watch the 1985 original one with Chevy Chase if you haven't, it's great!
BJ Stephens
2024-08-28 17:20:14 +0000 UTC
