It’s 1954 in Austin, Texas, when beauty salon worker Nadine Hightower (Kim Basinger) visits sleazy photographer Raymond Escobar (Jerry Stiller) to get back some compromising photos he took of her after assuring her he was friends with Hugh Heffner. However, while waiting for her photos, Nadine hears a commotion, followed by Raymond stumbling into the room with a knife in his chest, and clutching an envelope with her name written on it. She grabs the envelope and leaves just as the cops arrive, only to discover afterwards that inside are photos of a proposed new highway route, rather than her nudes.

Nadine and her soon-to-be-ex husband Vernon (Jeff Bridges) broke things off because Vernon seemed to care more about his failing business, the Bluebonnet Bar & Lounge, than his own wife. Nadine recently found out that’s she’s pregnant, and still hasn’t told Vernon, or signed the divorce papers. Even if they don’t want to admit it, she and Vernon still have feelings for one another, despite the fact that Vernon is already planning to get engaged to former Pecan Queen Renée Lomax (Glenne Headly) as soon as the divorce papers are signed. Nadine convinces Vernon to help her break back into the photography studio to get her photos. But the two soon find themselves being chased by the cops, and being hunted by shady land baron Buford Pope (Rip Torn) and Escobar’s killers, who are desperate to get their hands on those highway plans. However, Vernon has other plans—he sees a potential money-making opportunity and the chance to save his business, and loops in his lawyer cousin Dwight (Jay Patterson).

Nadine was released in 1987, and was one of those films that was constantly on cable when I was growing up. I’m sure I saw this at least a dozen times back then, but it has been decades since I last revisited the movie, and had completely forgotten the plot when this Blu-ray arrived for review. Overall, it’s a pretty entertaining film, mixing action with some humor. Basinger and Bridges have great chemistry as this couple who end up rekindling their broken relationship when they are thrust into this situation. They may act like they hate each other, but deep down the love is still there, and it seems to thrive with danger. Whenever this couple gets into a new predicament, Vernon always seems to have a plan. The film is just a short 82 minutes and moves along quickly. There are some interesting twists and turns, and Rip Torn is always great as a bad guy. If I had one complaint, it was that the delightful Glenne Headly was underutilized.

Nadine has arrived on Blu-ray for the first time from Alliance Home Entertainment. The picture has some flecks of dirt here and there, but generally solid otherwise, with a nice level of detail throughout. The audio track is only stereo, so it doesn’t have that fully-immersive feel, but dialogue was clear throughout, and was more than sufficient for the action and score/soundtrack.

The Blu-ray disc comes packed in a standard Blu-ray keepcase, with a Retro VHS slipcover that makes the release look like a classic VHS rental tape. The details on these slipcovers are really fun, and the design even extends to the spine as well, allowing these discs to displayed like a collection of VHS tapes on your shelf. There is no digital copy included, and the disc does not include any bonus material.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:22:59)

• 1080p / Widescreen 1.78:1
• Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
• Subtitles: English SDH

Extras:

There is no bonus material included.

Final Thoughts:

Fans of the 1987 film Nadine starring Kim Basinger and Jeff Bridges will be happy to see this action/comedy/romance finally getting a Blu-ray release. Alliance’s presentation looks and sounds solid, with some specs of dirt here and there in the picture but otherwise very good for its age. Unfortunately the disc is barebones, without any bonus material, but it looks like previous DVD releases didn’t include any either. This new Blu-ray release also includes a fun Alliance Home Entertainment (formerly Mill Creek Entertainment) retro VHS slipcover. It’s worth a look for fans of the cast/film.