Jon Hamm takes over as I. M. Fletcher and shines in the new comedy whodunit, Confless, Fletch, taking audiences to Italy and Boston.

When Fletch (Jon Hamm) is suspected of killing a woman at the townhouse that he’s renting, he decides to take matters into his own hands. It’s bad enough that he’s already helping his girlfriend, Angela De Grassi (Lorenza Izzo), with searching for a stolen art collection! To no surprise, he has his own list of suspects even as a pair of inspectors, Morris Monroe (Roy Wood Jr.) and Griz (Ayden Mayeri), believe he did it. You just have to tune in to find out who did it.

What makes the Fletch character stand out from other whodunits is that he’s an investigative reporter. He’s not a private investigator or a working police detective. The fact that he’s an irreverent smart-ass is one of his appeals in watching the film! And again, this is a reporter who thinks he can do a better job than the cops! You certainly can see the influences from the many whodunits that have come before but that’s just how this genre works.

The film is an adaptation of the Gregory Mcdonald novel of the same name. It’s more of a reboot of the Fletch franchise rather than a direct sequel to the two films starring Chevy Chase. But let me say this: Jon Hamm is absolutely fantastic. I especially love his chemistry with Roy Wood Jr. and Ayden Mayeri. Last month, Jeff Baena had nothing but nice things to say about Mayeri’s performance in Spin Me Round. She’s a star on the rise. Mad Men may have been Hamm’s breakthrough role but I love how he’s been getting opportunities to show off his funnier side. Speaking of Mad Men, the film reunites both Jon Hamm and John Slattery in its cast.

I hope that the Fletch franchise continues. The material is promising but it’s day-and-date. The fact that it’s day-and-date is what makes me think that there won’t be a sequel. If the franchise doesn’t continue, I hope that Hamm gets more comedic roles. He certainly deserves it. His being a fan of Mcdonald’s books definitely shows through in his performance. My only fear is that the film gets lost in the fray with it being day-and-date.

There have been a number of comedy whodunits over the years but Confess, Fletch is hysterical thanks to its comic performances.

DIRECTOR: Greg Mottola
SCREENWRITERS: Greg Mottola and Zev Borow
CAST: Jon Hamm, Roy Wood Jr., Annie Mumolo, Ayden Mayeri, Lorenza Izzo, with Kyle MacLachlan and Marcia Gay Harden

Miramax will release Confless, Fletch in theaters and Digital/VOD on September 16, 2022. Grade: 3.5/5

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