Lamplight Drivel

1989's FLETCH LIVES is one of many sequels I've avoided over the years.  I was and still am a fan of the original 1985 movie, in which Chevy Chase plays Ross Macdonald's sardonic newspaper reporter, Irwin M. Fletcher.  FLETCH  perfectly blended a solid mystery with Chase's near non-stop wisecracks.  Director Michael Ritchie, while certainly contriving a Hollywood product, lent his well established satiric eye in its best moments.  The film was a hit.  Four years later, Chase and Ritchie returned.  The magic largely did not. But....I didn't hate this.  I was kinda expecting to.  The idea of having Fletch in Louisiana just seemed wrong and silly.  He's an L.A. guy.   Was this to be another lame fish out of water tale?  For some reason, it was decided to go with an entirely new story, despite that there are eleven novels of great material to have been adapted.  Leon Capatanos, whose other work includes DOWN AND OUT IN BE...