Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) – A hitman returns to his hometown with a job just in time for his tenth high school reunion.

Directed by George Armitage                                            Starring – John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan                                                                                                          Ackroyd, Joan Cusack, Hank Azaria

Martin Blank (Cusack) has been a hit man for about five years.  He’s good at it and he has mostly enjoyed the work.  But he’s begun to question it all.  Plus the Grocer (Ackroyd) has decided that all “hitters” should unionize, there was an unfortunate accident involving a dog…it just all gets to be a bit much.  Going back to his hometown for a final job brings him face to face with the girl he dumped at the prom, now a local radio host(Driver).  After that, it just gets complicated.

This wonderful black comedy is a personal favorite.  It is a perfect vehicle for John Cusack, giving him a character suffering through a deep, personal issue (does he still want to be a hitman), suddenly confronted with repressed feelings for an old flame (Driver), and then surrounded by a brilliant cast of supporting actors.  In addition to those listed above you’ll find – Alan Arkin, Jeremy Piven, and Mitchell Ryan.  Cusack’s sister Joan, who appears in several movies with him, is fabulous as his hyper organized personal assistant.  Ackroyd offers up a perfectly reasonable ex-government agent, now freelancing, with a brilliantly funny insane person hiding just beneath the surface.  I could go on and on.  In simplest terms, I’m not sure there’s a foot put wrong anywhere in the movie.

This script had trouble for years because no one was sure how you balanced the comic elements with the violence required.  In the end, the movie puts on a masters class in walking that thin line.  There is plenty of gunfire (my favorite is the fight between Blank and the Grocer through the kitchen pass through) and explosions.  The hand to hand combat in the high school hallway is a solid action sequence.  Director Armitage deftly handles the rotations between black comedy, romance, and action.

On the whole, it’s just such a lot of fun, from beginning to end.


Why You Will Like It: The chemistry between Cusack and Driver, Dan Ackroyd’s insanity, Cusack, well, being Cusack.


Rating – **** Recommended