Grosse Pointe Blank
IN THEATERS NOW
Rating: R
Review Date: 7-24-97
Studio site: Grosse Pointe Blank
Stars: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Alan Arkin,
Joan Cusack, Hank Azaria
John Cusack stars as Martin Blank, a professional hit man. Dan Aykroyd
is Grocer, another hit man who happens to screw up Blank's last job. The
result, Blank must go to Detroit to do a hit to make up for screwing up
his last one and it just so happens that it is on the same weekend as his
10 year Grosse Pointe high school reunion. He doesn't want to go but his
secretary Marcella (Joan Cusack) keeps pushing it on him and he agrees
to go to make amends for his last job.
Upon arriving in Grosse Pointe, Martin almost immediately sees his old
sweetheart Debi (Minnie Driver) and remembers all the feelings that he
had for her. He's been having dreams about Debi for years and it was only
at the behest of his therapist (Alan Arkin) that he decided to go to the
reunion at all. Martin tries to think of a way to tell all those "good
old friends" at the reunion what he does for a living and at the same time
tries to win back Debi. That is the setup for this film that was being
referred to as a comedy.
Unfortunately though I didn't see it as much as a comedy as the studio
did. Yes Grosse Pointe Blank does have its funny moments but they
seem to be far and few between. I guess that the theme of a hit man going
to his high school reunion doesn't always play out as a comedy as much
as some people want it to. I know, I know this is supposed to fall into
the genre of "black comedy" but I have never been one to think that these
types of films are particularly funny.
Cusack is decent as Martin Blank a paranoid hit man that is struggling
with his feelings and his job. He has always been decent in playing this
type of roles as I remember the great film The Grifters. And I really
think that Minnie Driver is a beautiful actress who has a bright future.
After films like this and Circle of Friends it is easy to see the
talent that Driver has along with that charming girl next door type of
beauty.
Grosse Pointe Blank is a decent film, it's just not what I was expecting
upon seeing it. At times it is very clever in the way it deals with Blank's
status as a hit man. Though I think the film would've been better off if
it had focused on becoming totally a comedy or totally a drama, etc. I
really liked the soundtrack for the film as well. It was filled with all
the hits you would expect to hear in the late 80's. While I think I need
to see it again to get a better feel on what I think of it, I would recommend
this film as it stands.
Grade: B-
Parents Guide: The R rating is mainly for language, violence, and some
adult situations. Since Martin Blank is a hit man you can imagine the language
that is used in the film. The reunion brings about things like drugs and
sexual attraction. And of course there are a number of ways that people
are killed in the film. Overall other than the language though, Grosse
Pointe Blank is not too bad. The theme is not good though as it almost
makes light of the fact that Blank kills people for a living, and he enjoys
it.