Blind Date (1987)

Directed by: Blake Edwards | 91 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Kim Basinger, Bruce Willis, John Larroquette, William Daniels, George Coe, Mark Blum, Phil Hartman, Stephanie Faracy, Alice Hirson, Graham Stark, Joyce Van Patten, Jeannie Elias, Herb Tanney, Georgann Johnson, Sab Shimono, Momo Yashima , Armin Shimerman, Brian George

Bruce Willis’ first major film role was in ‘Blind Date’ (1987), a romantic comedy in which he played opposite Kim Basinger, who had already made his mark with the general public. Kim Basinger was already known for ‘Never Say Never Again’ and ‘9 1/2 Weeks’, while Bruce Willis actually only had detective series “Moonlighting” to his name. Would director Blake Edwards have realized what gold he was holding by choosing the male lead? Less than a year later, Bruce Willis made his name with the iconic portrayal of John McClane in ‘Die Hard’, a print that – rightly – is on almost everyone’s top so many favorite action films.

In ‘Blind Date’, Bruce plays the ambitious Walter Davis, who works hard to get a promotion. However, for a dinner with his boss and an important business partner, he needs a date, but his choice of women is limited. At his wits’ end, he accepts the proposal of his brother, the car salesman Ted (Phil Hartman). He indicates that Nadia (Kim Basinger), a niece of his wife, is new in town and likes to meet people. She must be up for a blind date with Walter. Oh yes, one warning beforehand: don’t give her alcohol, because then she loses all control.

To kill the time before dinner and get to know each other a little better, Walter and Nadia visit an exhibition (where they met Nadia’s extremely jealous ex David, a psychopath, according to Nadia) and a music studio (where Nadia, against her better judgement, is in a glass. drinks alcohol). The rest of the evening is predictable: of course the alcohol causes Nadia to misbehave during the business dinner and Walter loses his job. When Walter then tries to get rid of Nadia, the duo find themselves in one bizarre situation after another.

‘Blind Date’ is a comedy of errors. Not a very good one, but certainly not a bad one. Kim Basinger shows great comedic timing and John Larroquette (the psychopathic ex) has some very funny scenes, as does his fencing father, played by William Daniels. Bruce Willis also knows what to do with this role, in which physical comedy predominates. Although the chemistry between him and Basinger leaves something to be desired, and it’s not very well worked out why he can’t forget her in the end, the ending of ‘Blind Date’ is satisfying. Of course there are countless illogical choices in the story (why Walter doesn’t take Nadia to his brother and sister-in-law immediately after the offending business dinner, for example), but the film is entertaining enough not to make it a hot topic.