$8.99 DVD review: Grosse Pointe Blank

by: sam bailey
Staff Writer

"If I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there." Like a walking symbol of the prevalent attitude of the 90's Martin Blank (John Cusack) rationalizes the terrible things he does.

In Grosse Pointe Blank, a dark comedy from director George Armitage, Martin’s Gen X angst manifests itself in many ways. He’s uneasy, he’s unhappy with his job, and he’s questioning his life’s direction.

What makes Martin’s quarter-life crisis worthy of a movie is the job he’s losing interest in: Martin Blank is a professional killer.

After botching two assignments in a row, Martin receives an invitation to his 10-year high school reunion.

Along with the usual soul-searching that such an occasion prompts, it also offers him the chance to renew a dormant romance with his high school sweetheart, Debbie (Minnie Driver).

After discussing the matter thoroughly with his reluctant psychiatrist, played by Alan Arkin, Martin decides to return to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Coincidentally, he also has an assignment to carry out that weekend in Grosse Pointe.

All does not go well for Martin upon his arrival. His childhood home has been torn down "in the name of convenience", two government agents are shadowing him, and a rival assassin (Dan Aykroyd) is intent on rubbing out the competition.

Trying to juggle everything, while attempting to win back Debbie is almost more than the seasoned killer can handle. Grosse Pointe Blank is one of those rare movies that is able to entertain at different levels all at the same time. It is at varying points a comedy, a dark comedy, an action flick, and a romantic comedy. What’s amazing is that all four genres work!

The action scenes are exciting, particularly the climatic gun battle through a suburban home. The movie has great moments of lighthearted hilarity, along with the kind of humor that makes you feel slightly morbid to be laughing at it. Perhaps most surprisingly, Cusack and Driver have great chemistry, and their characters' strange relationship is enhanced by the personality both bring to their respective roles.

The plot of Grosse Pointe Blank is well served by its absurd nature. Professional killer and high school reunions aren’t typically two plot devices one would normally find together.

Director Armitage makes it work by keeping the seriousness of the film firmly limited to specific scenes, and letting the more flippant nature of the script dominate elsewhere.

Therefore, we are able to laugh as Martin cooly assassinates a bicyclist while arguing with his secretary, and yet later identify with Debbie as she discovers the true nature of his work. The writing and acting support the plot in this way, with all of the principles providing an excellent balance of humor and humanity.

The dialogue and acting are uniformly excellent, with special praise going to Aykroyd and Cusack for their dueling professionals, and Driver for one of the few "normal’ people in the plot.

Several supporting actors, namely Jeremy Piven as Martin’s high school friend and Alan Arkin turn in great comedic performances.

The only truly deficient part of the entire film is the role of Martin’s trusty secretary Marcella, played by Joan Cusack. Perhaps foreshadowing her career as a spokesperson for cellular telephones, Cusack overacts to an extreme, turning what should have been little more than a background character into an attention-grabbing annoyance.

Perhaps John Cusack should abandon nepotism as a method of selecting his co-stars. However, his sister’s terrible acting notwithstanding, Cusack has made an excellent film.

The great soundtrack of Grosse Pointe Blank deserves special mention, as well. Because Martin’s love interest is the DJ of an "underground" radio station, the movie is filled with an eclectic blend of music, from Echo and the Bunnymen to The Clash.

Overall, Grosse Pointe Blank is a great movie. The plot has a little bit of everything, and the majority of viewers will find something to like here. The performances are almost uniformly top-notch, the script is funny and engaging, and the soundtrack, like the movie itself, mixes a little bit of everything together.

Easily worth repeat viewing, Grosse Pointe Blank is certainly worth the money.