Fletch Lives (1989)

In "Fletch Lives" (1989), Chevy Chase returns as the irreverent investigative reporter Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher, who finds himself a fish out of water in the sleepy, bayou-soaked town of Cilby, Louisiana. Fletch has unexpectedly inherited a tumbledown mansion, but his quiet contemplation of home ownership is quickly interrupted when a woman he flirted with is found dead. As if termites, bizarre neighbors, and the general decay of his new estate weren't enough, Fletch becomes the prime suspect, forcing him to unravel the mystery and clear his name amidst his increasingly surreal Southern surroundings. This entry firmly belongs on a list of "Best Michael Ritchie Movies" due to its signature blend of sharp satire and an outsider protagonist navigating a bizarre, insular world. Ritchie's directorial hand is evident in the way he crafts the distinct, almost surreal atmosphere of small-town Louisiana, highlighting the oddities of its inhabitants and their customs through Fletch's cynical, yet ultimately good-hearted, lens. Like many of Ritchie's protagonists, Fletch is an outsider who, despite his own flaws, possesses a moral compass that allows him to expose the rot beneath a seemingly placid surface, making "Fletch Lives" a fitting and often hilarious addition to the director's oeuvre.