This film is an under the radar gem, it's also believe it or not an honorable mention in favorite Bruce Willis films. Strangely this film is the very first Bruce Willis film I've ever seen as well as romance comedy.
It was also my first film, from legendary comedy director Black Edwards. It's true this film I wouldn't say is on the highest ranked of his track record but that's common even with well-known directors and writers, there will be films and stories they make that are better than others that's just how it goes. However just because a film isn't top rank on the track record doesn't make it bad. Also, I'm personally not a fan of the romance comedy subgenre as most of them are cookie cutter but worst of all when the film is one but not the other or simply just neither funny nor romantic. This film I personally find an exception.
The film is sort of like one of those crazy night comedies like "After Hours" and "Adventures in Babysitting". I wouldn't say this film is really on the same level as them, let alone one of my favorite romance films in my book more on the B level but still good all the same as it hits the right notes.
The film has a good cast full of recognizable faces, let alone people way before they were ever stars.
From supporting characters like one of my favorite comedic actors Phil Hartman who plays Walter's brother. Despite not really in the film that much he's just funny as he's his usual comedic snarky sly self. Really like the back and forth both Bruce and him have, you get a good feeling their brothers. What's funny about Phil's character is he's helpful to his brother but at the same time he's not, as we hear and from what happens once, he sets up the blind date up he give's Walter unintentional grief. It's a shame that both Bruce and Phil never got to do another movie together, the fact this didn't happen was a lost opportunity.
John Larroquette whom I feel is an underrated comedic actor; of course, I remember him as Dan Fielding from "Night Court" which was another of my favorite comedy shows I watched as a kid in the 80s. It's too bad he never got to be in more silver screen movies as a lead, sadly that happens with a lot of comedic actors and actors with potential.
Here I feel is just at his one of his best, he's basically the crazy ex-boyfriend archetype but John just plays it so well, he's the guy you just hilariously love to dislike. This guy is just crazy, has a lot of really bad chips attached to his circuitry, from how he's dressed in that dated suit and bow tie. Though also kind of a man child, in one scene his room has these big stuffed animals not that that's a big deal but still it just looks and feels strange and once again shows another bad chip in his circuity.
He's insanely jellious and is on this hopeless mission of getting Nadia back, I guess he never read the book and heard the old saying "He's just not that into you." Though in this case it's she. Really like the rivalry between both Walter and him, there are some good bits of physical comedy like constantly crashing into one place after another which tells me either lady luck is on Walter's side or he's just a terrible driver; but what I like about those physical comedy bits are it's a case of making one joke funnier. Also, it's too bad that Bruce and he didn't get to do another film together, another lost opportunity.
Kim Basinger I'm personally not a fan of the actress, however this is one of the exceptions I make. This was also one of her silver screen debuts so that's kind of cool. Really like the scene when both Walter and her first meet, it's sort of that "Spider Man" you just hit the jackpot moment. Well Walter did in a twisted sense as that slot machine might have been malfunctioning a little to get it. Like the character Nadia, whom we see is kind of borderline crazy mainly once she drinks a little too much happy juice, almost as much as Arthur from the 80's film "Arthur". I like the way she plays it, roles like this can be tricky as sometimes as the full-on crazy role can get annoying fast and just tiresome. But with her there is a good balance where she can get full on crazy but then dial back a little.
This craziness strangely works to both her and Walter's advantage. From this I like we discover little hints of her character from the fact she can speak and understand French well, also in a scene seems to know a specific law. It really tells you she's a highly intelligent woman.
Of course, it's really Bruce Willis that really drives the film, this film was his silver screen lead debut, and it was a good one. I know with most stars that their first-time lead film can sometimes not turn out well, but this is one of those cases where that's not the case at all, at least for me. Bruce already was well known mainly as the star of the 80's TV show "Moonlighting" (show I reviewed) but never outside of TV, until this film and it was a good start.
I really like his character Walter who is a relatable character where when we look at him, we can easily say, yeah, we've been there or were that guy or girl at the time. We see he's that regular working guy that despite big ambitions he lacks the drive, but his main problems are really that he's ill confidant in some sense and just kind of unhappy. There is a scene where we see his office, there are just papers everywhere like a set of them on top a computer monitor, papers on a cork board overlapping others, just reflects his psyche and personal life in total disarray despite a clean interior. Though also we can relate to him as some of us have that bad date or two, or even just the common fear of a date going sideways.
I really like seeing how he reacts to the craziness going on around him, it's feels like how any of us would or might. From being chased and attacked by the crazy ex-boyfriend, and a scene where there are practically four misfortunes at once, I won't say what they are you just must see them for yourself. It's funny when we see Walter just completely lose it at some point, yeah, I can easily imagine if I ever went though what he went though I might lose my cool as well.
One highlight is the gun scene, which is blackly funny and in Walter's case understandable, I'm sure if Vash the Stampede ever spend a matter of minutes with David he would be tempted to pull his gun out. I won't say anything else about it you have to see for yourself, but it really made me crack up and Bruce says one of the best lines in the film.
Though despite all the craziness there is some genuine feeling, you really get a feeling both Walter and Nadia are bonding as both have probably had relationships before but never came very close. In a way we see Nadia in a sense did Walter a favor as he's life really wasn't that good. Though this craziness it not just helped bring out the aggressive side to Walter he kept repressed and pent up for so long. But also helps Walter get down to the bottom of the truth on what he really wants from life and his life to be. In a strange way that part of what a good significant other should do to discover and bring out the best in the other.
The film has a solid soundtrack with three memorable songs that are favorite romance songs of mine two from Billy and the Beaters (whom were the band in the club scene) "Let you Get Away" and "Anybody Seen Her". And the song at the end "Simply Meant to Be" by Garett Morris and Jennifer Warnes.
The only weak point of the film is the film sort of loses some of its momentum near the end. Mainly the climax doesn't get me wrong I think it's a decent climax which by romance films standards is predictable and you're expecting it. It's just I felt the road to it needed more traction, something big needed to happen to capitalize on itself. But this is something I can easily look past as I liked the story, so this is only a small loss.
If you're a Bruce Willis fan or looking for some vintage 80's rom com, then set the date and give this film a try. As lines from an old song go, if loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Rating: 3 stars.
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