Review: Jon Hamm Excels In The Comedy-Mystery CONFESS, FLETCH
Confess, Fletch is a fun, breezy, star-driven comedy-mystery with a magnificently charismatic turn from the mighty Jon Hamm. This adaptation of Gregory Mcdonald’s 1976 novel is a cool throwback movie – the type of film which was the bread and butter of most Hollywood studios for decades. Times of changed though, and a movie like Confess, Fletch now feels like a serious breath of fresh air. It doesn’t feature explosions, fireballs and the fate of the earth isn’t in peril – stakes are low – and the movie is all the better for it .
Of course, the character of Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher first made it to the screen in a pair of comedies starring Chevy Case in the 1980s. Those films (especially the sequel) played fast and loose with the source material, and while this new effort from Superbad director Greg Mottola is most definitely a comedy, it does lean heavily into the central mystery while also giving plenty of focus to character.
In the film, the retired investigative journalist is searching for a missing painting when he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Fletch must keep one-step ahead of the cops and work his way into high society to in order to find the killer and clear his name.
Since the end of Mad Men, Hamm has taken on a variety of supporting roles in everything from Baby Driver to Top Gun: Maverick, but Confess, Fletch sees him do what he was born to do – be front and centre in the lead role. Hamm is exceptional at delivering the snarky one liners, while also selling the laidback intelligence of the character. Fans of Mad Men will be thrilled to see the actor reunited with one of his co-stars from that show, John Slattery. Also along for the ride is a roster of great supporting actors in the form of Roy Wood Jr., Annie Mumolo, Ayden Mayeri, Lorenza Izzo, Kyle MacLachlan and Marcia Gay Harden. They all bite into the scenery and chew it with gusto.
Confess, Fletch isn’t groundbreaking by any means and it lacks a real sense of danger, however Jon Hamm is great in the lead role and his old fashioned movie star charisma goes a long, long way.
Ultimately, you need to watch Confess, Fletch – because if you don’t then you’ll be the reason why this incarnation of Fletch isn’t turned into a franchise. Consider that a warning – because they really do need to make at least two more of these.
