Blind Date

In my last post I wrote about the teaming of director Blake Edwards and star Bruce Willis for the snoozefest Sunset. Today I thought I would write about their first collaboration, 1987's Blind Date.

Willis, fresh from his success on tv's Moonlighting, landed his first big screen lead. He plays Walter, a mild mannered businessman who's desperate to impress his bosses at a dinner that could make his career. He enlists the help of his brother, Phil Hartman, to land him the perfect dinner date that will wow his superiors. He sets him up with Nadia, Kim Basinger, a total knockout that has Walter smitten instantly. There is one drawback with Nadia that Walter's brother warns him about. If she drinks she loses control. Walter doesn't listen and after one drink, the evening goes from nice to chaotic. Not to mention that Nadia's crazy ex, John Larroquette, is hot on their tail.

This movie is a lot of fun and a good example of what Edwards does best, the screwball romantic comedy. Willis does a decent job in what is a more toned down version of the character he played on Moonlighting. I've never felt that Basinger was that great of an actress. She does an ok job with the material, but they should have cast someone with stronger comedic chops. Madonna was actually first cast in the role, but she walked when Edwards wouldn't give the Willis role to her then husband Sean Penn. I do feel that Basinger is a better choice than the material girl. Larroquette is the real scene stealer and is a riot. The movie really picks up when he's on screen.

This was written by Dale Launer, who also wrote such brilliant comedies Ruthless People and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Supposedly Edwards did so many rewrites to his script that Launer basically disowned it when the film came out. I would love to see what the original was like.

That being said, there are still plenty of laughs in this romp.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.