Today’s quick review: Grosse Pointe Blank. Martin Blank (John Cusack), a professional hitman, returns to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, a Detroit suburb, for his tenth high school reunion. While there, he tries to patch things up with Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), his ex-girlfriend, and catch up with his old classmates. But Grocer (Dan Aykroyd), a rival hitman, follows him to Detroit with a plan to have him eliminated.
Grosse Pointe Blank is a crime comedy with great characters and an all-star 80s soundtrack. John Cusack leads as Martin Blank, a hitman beginning to have doubts about his career. Martin is awkward at times, coming across as more menacing than he means to, but his wit and scraps of conscience make him a sympathetic protagonist. His hasty disappearance ten years ago and his unusual profession place him in an awkward position at his reunion, particularly with Debi, whom he stood up on prom night.
The characters and writing of Grosse Pointe Blank combine for a very amusing film. John Cusack has great chemistry with each of his supporting actors, including his assistant Marcella (Joan Cusack), his reluctant psychiatrist Dr. Oatman (Alan Arkin), and his old best friend Paul (Jeremy Piven). John Cusack and Minnie Driver play off each other marvelously, bonding over their shared sense of humor, high school memories, and 80s disaffection.
Watch Grosse Pointe Blank if you are looking for a well-written comedy brought to life by a wonderful cast. The characters are colorful, the dialogue is packed with witticisms, and the film shows glimpses of a light but fully realized world of assassins. Skip it if you dislike 80s nostalgia.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for great characters and humor.