Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Directed by: George Armitage

Starring: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ7AXKWmWOg

Martin Q. Blank (Cusack) kills people for a living. He is a contract killer for hire. After a unprofessionally executed contract ends in failure, Martin builds a conscience and starts to question his choice of profession. His therapist and personal secretary convince him to unwind, by attending his class of 86’ 10-year high school reunion happening in his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, which is coincidentally close by to the location of his next target contract.

“Grosse Pointe Blank” is a late 90’s comedy directed by George Armitage and stars John Cusack as a professional assassin who decides to drop by his hometown for a 10-year high school reunion while on route to finish his latest contract. 

Also starring in the film are Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and Alan Arkin, with supporting performances from Joan Cusack, and comedians Jeremy Piven, and Hank Azaria.

The film is a 90’s comedy that has slowly built a cult following through the years since its release. Its a rare gem of a comedy that is often overlooked. This film is more entertaining than what the poster presents at first glance. Those unfamiliar would probably mistake this for a cheesy romantic comedy starring John Cusack and the lovable Minnie Driver. Well in a sense it probably is, but i’d say this is more darkly humored and less of a chick flick, at least in my opinion. There is a good sense of action in here as well. Both John Cusack and Dan Aykroyd, who both come-off as off-beat when playing their roles as assassins on screen, somehow surprisingly make their characters work. You will get your fair share of gun blazing shootouts in this film.

I’ve always thought this film is a quality screen. I’ve seen it several times now and still find it to be as equally funny and entertaining as when i first saw it. Hard to catch a screening of this on television or on the shelves of the local video rental nowadays. Thank god for the world wide web and copyright infringement downloads.