"Fletch": The '80s Comedy Gold We Don't Deserve

Alright, fellow Gen X-ers, let's talk "Fletch." I saw it in the theater when it came out, and honestly, Chevy Chase was ON FIRE back then. I think it's so good because it's a throwback to the kind of sophisticated comedic mysteries we used to get back in the day, like "The Thin Man" movies, but, you know, with more cocaine and roller skates. The plot is almost secondary to the sheer comedic genius of Chase's improvisational riffing. Seriously, every alias he adopts is funnier than the last. My personal fav is "Gordon Liddy" at the country club. Dude just commits. I mean, the whole storyline with Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) is kinda dark when you think about it – assisted suicide and all that – but the movie somehow manages to make it hilarious. And the supporting cast is fantastic. Geena Davis as Larry? Chef's kiss! Even the smaller roles, like George Wyner as the obsequious Marvin Gillet, are perfectly cast. I think the scene where Fletch orders a steak sandwich and a soda, then walks out without paying is one of the GREAT movie moments. It's so perfectly timed and arrogant. It's dated, sure. The fashion, the synth score... all very 1985. But that's part of its charm, right? It's a snapshot of the '80s, but with a timeless sense of humor. I tried watching the reboot with Jon Hamm, and it just didn't hit the same. Chase just had that something. I think it's the kind of thing you either 'get' or you don't. I'm glad I do! Anyone else feel me on this? Am I just blinded by nostalgia, or is "Fletch" genuinely one of the funniest movies EVER? Chime in!! And by the way, who knows who directed it? I honestly had to look it up!