Most people incorrectly think that the former Moonlighting star made his leading movie star debut in Die Hard, in fact it was in this film, and unfortunately it wasn't rated well by critics, I had to see why, directed by Blake Edwards (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Pink Panther films, A Shot in the Dark). Basically Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) is a workaholic, all work and no play or attention to his appearance or personal life, so he allows his brother Ted (Phil Hartman) to set him up on a blind date. Walter's date, who will accompany him to his company's business dinner with a new important Japanese client, is Ted's wife's cousin, Nadia Gates (Kim Basinger). Nadia is new in town and wants to socialise, she is shy and there is an awkwardness between her and Walter, as the evening goes on Nadia has a drink, and this causes her to behave in a wild manner, Ted warned Walter beforehand about her behaviour under the influence of alcohol, but he thought this was a joke. The situation gets worse when Nadia's ex-boyfriend David Bedford (John Larroquette) shows up and starts stalking the couple all night, trying assaults of all sorts, including ramming Walter's car. Walter ends up going insane with Nadia's mishaps and David's pursuit, he wreaks havoc at the dinner, and Nadia gets Walter fired, his car is destroyed, and he is put in a prison cell after threatening David with a mugger's weapon, including forcing him to moonwalk and firing at a frightened man's feet. Nadia pays the $10,000 bail for Walter's release, and she is forced to agree to marry David so he will help Walter avoid prison time during his court case. Walter realises he may in fact have real feelings for Nadia, so to spoil the wedding he injects a full box of chocolates with brandy, she eats all of them before the ceremony, and chaos ensues with her drunken behaviour. In the end Walter, previously seen going all over the house trying to talk to Nadia, stops the wedding and expresses his feelings, the paid kiss and embrace what looks like true love, and they get married. Also starring William Daniels as Judge Harold Bedford, George Coe as Harry Gruen, Mark Blum as Denny Gordon, Stephanie Faracy as Susie Davis, Alice Hirson as Muriel Bedford, Graham Stark as Jordan the Butler and Joyce Van Patten as Nadia's Mother. It is unsurprising critics thought Willis would be another TV star attempting an failing somewhat in his first film, he doesn't quite fit, and Basinger, despite being beautiful, is rather irritating as the woman turned crazy by alcohol who causes disaster for others. This film has almost nothing that works, the attempts at slapstick create only titters of laughter, the mad behaviour gets the point where it cringing and unbearable rather than funny, and there is hardly any believability with the love story, it is most disappointing comedy. Pretty poor!
Review of Blind Date
