In his prime years,Bruce Williswas willing to take risks as an actor. Though he was viewed primarily asan action star, he often gave surprise turns in comedies and dramas that defied any perception of being a one-note performer. Such was the case when helent his rare physical comedy talents inBlake Edwards’ romantic comedyBlind Date.
A year beforeDie Hardcemented him as a cinematic action star,Willis was viewed by Hollywood as a comedic everyman similar toBill Murraywhen he landed his first leading role in a theatrical film. In 1987, Willis had already established a particular level of swagger as the star of ABC’s prime-time detective comedyMoonlighting. His star-making private eye, David Addison, had a bad boy quality for women as well as a charismatic macho attitude that made him the kind of friend that men wanted to share a beer with. None of that was the case inBlind Datewith Willis playing a straight man in over his head.
What Is ‘Blind Date’ About?
Los Angeles financial executive Walter Davis (Willis) had dreams of becoming a successful guitar player in the music scenebefore he settled into the corporate world to survive.This play-it-safe approach to life is put to the test when his brother Ted (Phil Hartman) arranges a blind date for his upcoming business dinner. The date happens to be Ted’s wife’s attractive cousin Nadia (Kim Basinger),who can “lose control” when shegets drunk. Walter ignores Ted’s warnings about Nadia’s drinking issue and gives her champagne during a private sit-down at a recording studio. The workaholic stiff eventually gets forced out of his comfort zone as he spends a night full of chaoscaused by Nadia’s over-the-top drunk behavior and being put into wild situations.Though Walter and Nadia grow closer as the night goes on, their potential romance is threatened by Nadia’s obsessed ex, David (John Larroquette).
Blind Dateshares similarities toMartin Scorsese’sAfter Hourswith the comedic misadventures taking place mostly at night. What begins as a straightforward icebreaker at a local museum becomes hours of Walter’s humiliation at his business dinner, a bar brawl, and David’snever-ending chase that leaves both Walter and his car completely wrecked.Unfortunately,Blind Datedoes not have the high-brow humor of Edwards’10nor is it as clever as the slapstick comedy ofThe Pink Pantherfranchise.Everything is played as on-the-nose sight gags lifted from television sitcomsrather than a cinematic farce.
Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger Showcase Their Rare Physical Comedy Talents in ‘Blind Date'
For the first half of the picture,Willis seems out of place in a genre he was already familiar withinMoonlighting. His New Jersey attitude matched with slick ‘80s suits do not quite connect with an office employee who gave up their rock star dreams. Walter seems written for a meek everyman actor likeGriffin DunneorRick Moranis,where the humor could play better opposite a visually stunning Basinger. Willis, however, isharder to believe as someone having great difficulty keeping a bad date night from completely going off the rails.
Willis shines best inBlind Datewhen he completely loses control of himself after the date night.His standout moment is when the roles flip: an intoxicated Walter takes a sober Nadia to a party that interrupts, losing all sanity while dancing to the Mambo and threatening David at gunpoint to doMichael Jackson’s moonwalk. Though the entire sequence appears lifted from aMoonlightingepisode,it scratched the surface of Willis’ talents in future films.The physical image of a disheveled Willis in beat-up clothes and bruises alone indirectly teased his signatureDie Hardpersona.
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Aside fromBlind Datebeing Willis’ breakout theatrical film,Basinger gives a rare, slightly overacted comedic performance. Thefuture Oscar-winnerhad already worked with Edwards in 1983’sThe Man Who Loved Womenwith Blind Date marking her second appearance in a comedy. Her Georgia accent is played up for laughs in the drunk scenes. Especially during the business dinner when Nadia mocks the French waiter and causes mischief among the patrons, including Walter’s boss. Basinger rarely looked like she was having fun in other movies until she played a parody of herself inWayne’s World 2.
As a comedy whose script byDale Launerfell victim toextensive rewrites,Blind Dateis an uneven Edwards movie that goes all in on cheap screwball laughs without much inspiration. The film is only saved by Willis’ ability to shift from uptight to maniacal while Basinger mixes beauty with her rare showcase of humor.It is simply a product of a very carefree time.
Blind Date
