You think they might run an ad or two for this movie. The original Fletch films are considered classics, and there is a built-in audience for this, yet I've heard nearly nothing about it. I'm a big fan of the Fletch books, and loved both of the Fletch films. I also like Jon Hamm. I heard they were making this movie, but all of sudden I find out it came out a few days ago with zero fanfare? It seems like a missed opportunity to release this totally under the radar.
shareIt's strange. Usually that happens when a studio has no faith in a movie. This wasn't a complete disaster though, judging by the reviews and audience rating.
shareHaving seen the movie I would have expected the studios to have zero faith in it. The biggest problem is John Hamm just isn't right for the part. He has zero comic ability.
shareNot having seen the movie, I find that incredibly surprising since Hamm has done plenty of comedic work and has shown he's quite good at it.
shareHamm is not the problem. Lack of actual comedy is. Not many laughs in this one.
shareYes the script is weak as hell, but if you had an actor that had more to offer it might have garnered a few more laughs. Chevy Chase or Jim Carrey in their prime could have probably made the movie a bit more entertaining. Hamm just doesn't seem to have any comedic timing or ability to give expressions to make a bit work.
shareIt showed up a bunch in my facebook news feed, but I follow all the usual entertainment pages. The movie was pretty good. Basically a Fletch story without Chevy's trademark humor. I've only ever read one of the books. I found Hamm just a little difficult to buy in the role. He simply doesn't look good in a ball cap at all. Can't say I followed the twsity clues and red herrings terribly well. I've never been good at watching movies like this. There was some goofy antics going on like you would expect in a quirky detective story, and they kind of run through dialog while it's all happening, so it's really distracting. But a fine first film, I hope they make more of them. Between this and his appearance in Progressive commercials, I think Hamm is trying to rebrand himself as more of a funny guy.
shareI'm going to go see it tonight. I read that Hamm is open to acting in an entire series of films based on the 9 Fletch novels. I'd be down, as long as they are good!
shareProbably thought it was a dud so they just released it quietly. Jon Hamm deserves better than this.
shareIt opened in only 516 theaters in North America and grossed $266,744; not good. For the second weekend, over half of the theaters dropped it and it grossed about $83,000.
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3688530689/?ref_=bo_we_table_27
The producers likely used test audiences and already knew it would bomb. So why spend money marketing it? Save that for a better film.
I saw it at a discount night theater with a dozen patrons. Nobody laughed. I think Jon Hamm wanted to shed his slick Mad Man TV image. He was sloppy and fat and miscast.
I actually never saw the original Fletch movie with Chevy Chase until about a year ago. It seemed dated and it did not make me laugh.
I know that Chevy had cocaine problems throughout his life. But I thought he was pretty good in the ensemble cast of TV's Community show.
I'd be surprised if test audiences reacted negatively. I've heard only extremely positive feedback from people who have watched it. I saw it, and think it's an excellent film. The theater was pretty empty, but those who were there at the same time as me were laughing. It's at 86/77 on Rotten Tomatoes.
I think this is either a lack of awareness on the part of the studio, or a purposeful tanking of the film.
Apparently it is getting a sequel after all.
shareAn asshole who thinks it’s funny to name himself Chevy Chase has never come within several light years of being in “a classic movie,” unless you’re on drugs and thought the jokes in Boy’s Life and Reader’s Digest magazines were actually funny.
shareThis is crazy. I (and my kids) are huge fans of the original Fletch (Chevy Chase) movies. We also tend to enjoy anything John Hamm is in. If it weren't for me seeing this on the trending section here on moviechat, I would have no idea it existed.
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