Heh. This is one of my guilty pleasures. If I am flipping channels and this is on, I will absolutely watch it. Every time.

"Can I borrow your towel? My car just hit a water buffalo."

Yeah, I know Chevy says it's his best movie. The soundtrack is lousy, stamps it smack dab in the 80s, and it's not great but I love it. As you say it's so damn watchable.

The books are dopey, perfect for when you are a wise ass teenager. I tried them again a few years ago and they didn't hold up.

Its all ball-bearings these days.

One of the funniest movies, and best comedic performances of it's time (which is saying a lot)

2) I think the 80s cheese synth music adds to Fletch's lasting charm. It's a comedy and performance of it's time. I haven't been back to the books forever, but the movie still cracks me up.

4) Point taken. I can see that.

I never read the books and I was always curious to. Sorry to hear you didn't like them as much on the 2nd go round. I'll still have to try one someday.

I agree that the cheeseball score works as an 80s time capsule. Michael Ritchie directed the movie - years after his great films of the 70s, but still a keen comedy director.