Movie Review: Blind Date (1987)

★★★★★

I watched it expecting a cheesy 80s comedy, but it totally surprised me. Bruce Willis is hilarious, and Kim Basinger’s wild side steals the show.

Olivia T.

California

Some movies make you laugh because they’re clever. Others make you laugh because they’re just plain chaotic. Blind Date (1987) lands squarely in the latter camp, and trust me, that’s not a bad thing.

Directed by Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther, Victor/Victoria) and starring Bruce Willis in his first big-screen leading role, Blind Date is a romantic comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And when I rewatched it recently for BoxReview.com, I found myself appreciating it more now than I ever did before.

If you love ‘80s screwball comedies, over-the-top situations, and seeing Bruce Willis in a very un-Die Hard role, this might just be your new favorite rediscovery.

The Premise: One Drink Too Many

Willis plays Walter Davis, a tightly wound workaholic who reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with his sister-in-law’s friend, Nadia Gates (Kim Basinger). The catch? He’s warned not to let her drink. Of course, he doesn’t listen. One glass of champagne later, and Nadia transforms from a sweet, soft-spoken beauty into a wild, impulsive force of destruction.

What follows is a night of escalating mayhem: property damage, a jealous ex (played by John Larroquette in full unhinged mode), a sabotaged business meeting, and even an arrest. Think After Hours, but with more slapstick and romantic undertones.

Bruce Willis Before the Action Hero Era

This is one of those Bruce Willis performances people rarely talk about. Before he became the face of action in Die Hard, he was still riding high from Moonlighting, and Blind Date gave him a chance to flex his comedic muscles.

What I love most is how unguarded his performance is. Walter isn’t slick or cool—he’s completely undone by the night’s events, and Willis leans hard into physical comedy and facial expressions. He’s a mess in the best way possible.

If you’re only familiar with stoic, wisecracking action-hero Bruce, this is a great reminder that he started off in comedy and had serious chops.

Kim Basinger Steals the Show

Honestly, this movie doesn’t work without Kim Basinger. Her transformation from polite to unhinged party girl is so extreme, yet so believable within the world of the movie, that it’s impossible to look away. She’s charming, chaotic, and somehow sympathetic even as she leaves a trail of destruction behind her.

What other reviews often miss is how Blind Date cleverly flips gender expectations. Walter is the cautious, emotionally repressed character, while Nadia is impulsive, physical, and completely unpredictable. Watching Willis react to Basinger’s every move is half the fun.

The Blake Edwards Touch

Director Blake Edwards had a knack for combining sophisticated set-ups with slapstick payoffs, and Blind Date is full of classic Edwards moments: pratfalls, mistaken identities, smashed cars, and farcical misunderstandings. The tone may feel exaggerated at times, but that’s exactly what makes the film so memorable.

There’s a hotel room scene involving a dog, a wedding, and a wildly overzealous John Larroquette that feels straight out of a live-action cartoon, and I mean that as a compliment.

Edwards uses nighttime as more than just a setting; it becomes a metaphor for Walter’s unraveling. Each hour pushes him further from his buttoned-up self, and by morning, he’s someone completely different. That subtle character arc is one of the film’s unexpected strengths.

Underrated Highlights

Most reviews focus on the broad comedy and star power, but Blind Date has a few underappreciated elements that make it worth a revisit:

• The supporting cast: Larroquette as the obsessed ex-boyfriend is a scene-stealer. His descent into madness rivals Basinger’s in terms of pure comedy. And William Daniels (Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World) pops up as a stern judge, delivering one of the movie’s most satisfying lines.

• The score: Henry Mancini (yes, the same one who did The Pink Panther theme) brings a jazzy, offbeat energy that perfectly matches the film’s unpredictable tone. The music adds a sense of class to the chaos.

• Themes of identity and control: It’s easy to dismiss Blind Date as a simple slapstick romp, but underneath it all, it’s about letting go. Walter needs to loosen up, and Nadia needs to regain control when they meet in the middle; it actually feels earned.

The Verdict: Flawed but Fun

Let’s be honest, Blind Date isn’t a perfect film. Some gags go on too long, the tone can shift abruptly, and the plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking. But it doesn’t need to be. This is the kind of movie that exists to entertain, and on that front, it succeeds.

Watching it now, it feels like a time capsule of late-‘80s comedy: fast-paced, slightly unhinged, and full of moments that make you wince and laugh at the same time.

At Box Review, we love highlighting movies that deserve a second look, and Blind Date is definitely one of them. It may not be in the rom-com hall of fame, but it’s a fascinating moment in the careers of its stars and a reminder of how fun a single night gone wrong can be on screen.

If you’re in the mood for something light, chaotic, and unexpectedly charming, give this one a watch. Just remember: don’t let her drink.