Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) User Reviews

One of my favorite films

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 6 May 2007]

Some movies have a good story that is made great by the casting. This is one such film. It has a cast to die for and makes what could have been an interesting film superb.

John and Joan Cusack play great characters along with Minnie Driver in a film about a hit man returning to his home town for a high school reunion. he reconnects with a lost love while competitors are trying to rub him out.

There is an assortment of characters in the film: Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) as Dr. Oatman; Dan Akroyd as Blank's main competitor; Hank Azaria, K. Todd Freeman and Jeremy Piven.

This film has enough laughs amid the shooting and romance to satisfy anyone.

A classic in my book

[K3nzit · 9/10 · 28 December 2019]

Man, I really love this black comedy. It's very well put together, with many great performances and a dialogue that is very well-written. The action is brilliant aswell - you'll definitely see some cool stuff here. The soundtrack consists of many nice tunes from the 80's, that lift the film even higher. Well, you just can't go wrong with this one - A classic in my book.

"Mirror in the Bathroom"

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 22 June 2019]

Perpetually phenomenal every time I see it! Among one of John Cusack's best roles, I would've loved to have seen this in theaters, and I hope it gets a rerelease via fathom events at some point. This has one of the best soundtracks, an exquisite cast, some badass moments, and some fairly good writing. Really deserves praise and appreciation! I'm always intrigued by this sweet hitman movie whenever I get a chance to see it.

Consistently surprising and entertaining

[SKG-2 · 10/10 · 22 February 1999]

One of the complaints about movies these days, and justifiably so, is that they're predictable. This movie is not predictable, and I never thought I'd be able to say that about a movie with four credited writers. Every time you think you can guess where it's going, it throws a curve. It was also very funny, which is nice because good comedies are becoming a rare species. John Cusack continues to show what a great actor he is as hitman Martin Blank. He doesn't wink at the audience, saying, Oh look, I'm a hitman, but plays him as normal, with the right amount of misgivings and tenacity. Minnie Driver is quite good as the woman he's still obsessed with (although she was good in GOOD WILL HUNTING, she should have been nominated for this performance), and Alan Arkin and Jeremy Piven were good, as ever, in support. The surprise, however, is Dan Aykroyd. Just when I was prepared to write him off forever, he comes through with a great performance here. The soundtrack is terrific too, avoiding the cliched 80's songs to provide a fresh, and compatible, score.

A '90s classic!

[jellyneckr · 2 June 2001]

Although not nearly as popular as it deserves to be, GROSS POINTE BLANK has become an increasingly respected cult flick in the year following its theatrical release and it's not hard to see why. The movie is probably the only film on earth that is able to blend comedy, graphic violence, and romance together perfectly, which is what makes it such a classic. John Cusack is excellent as Martin Q. Blank, a hit-man who attends his ten-year high school reunion. At first he doesn't want to, but decides to go since he has a case there and he wants to see his old girlfriend Debbie (Minnie Driver) again. This dark comedy is heavy on exciting action, suspense, gunfire, laughs, and fun, but it doesn't have not quite enough character development for my taste (a bit more on how Martin became accustomed to killing would have been nice). Still, GROSSE POINTE BLANK was one of the best films of 1997 and one of the better comedies of the 1990s. There were rumors of a sequel happening for a while, though the chances of that happening are slim to none. Too bad.

Great Movie

[eastbergholt2002 · 9/10 · 2 December 2007]

I love this movie. Grosse Pointe Blank is smart and witty and has a stunning 1980s soundtrack. Martin Blank (Cusack) is an angst ridden international hit-man who has stopped enjoying his work. He searches for meaning in his life and returns to Grosse Pointe, Michigan for his 10th year High School reunion and one last job. Blank meets his mom, some old friends and discovers that his childhood home has been knocked down to make way for a convenience store. He ponders his life choices and has recurring dreams about Debi Newberry (Driver) the girl he stood up on Prom night.

Blank's activities have attracted a collection of hit men trying to find an excuse to kill him. These include Aykroyd, two federal agents and a freelance Basque hit-man. There is a shoot-out at the end and overall the film has a large body count, but Cusack makes Blank seem like a lovable version of Jason Bourne. The film is something of an ensemble piece with great comic performances from Alan Arkin, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven and Aykroyd. The film pokes fun at the loner tough guy hero featured in so many Hollywood movies. At the time of its release the story was a little unusual but Mr and Mrs Smith has since explored similar territory of rich cosmopolitan assassins trying to blend into ordinary American life.

Blank spends most of the movie in pursuit of Debi. Will she forgive him? Will he have time to complete his assignment? This is my idea of a great movie. It's funny and clever and the characters are flawed but likable.

Wonderfully fun comedy

[bob the moo · 17 October 2001]

About the same time as this film was made there was a spate of hitman focused comedy dramas (from Leon to Coldblooded) so this risked being viewed in the same way as these. This is strictly a comedy - there's no deep soul searching here, the analyst is also in it for comedy value.

The story is funny and lively, the soundtrack reminded us that not all 80's music was rubbish and the whole feel of the film is one that it must have been fun to make. John Cusack is excellent as the hitman, he just seems to bring the character to life and play him in a jokey way without making fun of the film, Dan Akroyd gets the best role he's had in years as the hitman trying to get Cusack to join his union, while Minnie Driver is girly and fun - the whole cast are excellent in fact!

The film is not a classic by any means and many see it as a down side that it ignores any serious issues or that the film is set so far away from reality but for me this is part of the fun. Sit down, don't take it seriously and just enjoy the ride!

Hilariously Light and Fluffy, Yet Dark Comedy

[gavin6942 · 9/10 · 21 August 2006]

Sometimes one bad apple ruins the whole thing. One drop of taint makes the best things in life go bad. An this movie was full of potential taint. It could have been Minnie Driver (the weak point of "Good Will Hunting"). It could have been Dan Ackroyd (whose comedic routines can go from great in "Ghostbusters" to stupid in "Coneheads"). Or maybe it could even have been the fact the writers and director really have no prior experience in making a big film. But the potential taint never happened and this film came out almost flawless.

Minnie Driver was given such a small role that her poor acting and unbelievable character (which, I guess isn't her fault) could be overlooked and placed in the margin. Not her worst performance, but not her best (which might be "Beautiful").

Dan Ackroyd was superb, actually presenting us one of the funnier yet darker villains in cinematic history. His delivery of Bible verses while shooting willy-nilly through a target's house? Diabolical! The directing was respectable and the writing was spot-on. Some great dialog between the characters and the story could not be beat. Seriously.

The Cusacks? Oh my! John Cusack is a winner in everything he's ever done (besides maybe "One Crazy Summer"). This movie is one of his best, almost as memorable as "Say Anything" (though that one is flatly unbeatable). Joan Cusack was also pretty cool as a receptionist and her rapport with John is clear and shines in the film. I'm not buying a phone from her, though. And John's sparring with his kickboxing instructor? Those lessons have paid off! Jeremy Piven? Stupendous, as good if not better than his "Chasing Liberty" role. Having starred in 10 films with John Cusack, this is probably their best together.

There are so many more praises I could heap on this movie, but I shouldn't have to. If you want to see a funny, quirky and well-crafted tale about a professional hit-man and a high school reunion, this is your film of choice. You might rent "Michelle and Romy", but not only will you not get the hit men, but you'll get a piece of dog doo, as well. So choose wisely.

A Nutshell Review: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

[DICK STEEL · 8/10 · 8 January 2006]

I've keeping my run of John Cusack movies with each trip to the library. Not that I'm on the lookout for his old movies deliberately, it just happens. Not that I'm complaining, but he's always been one of the few who play characters so diverse, it's almost impossible to stereotype him. He's fast becoming one of my favorite actors, besides Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington, amongst others.

School reunions are one of those social events that you either love, or loathe. If you're a somebody back then, and are sort of somebody right now, it presents to you an opportunity to brag about it. If you're cruising along fine, then you're probably curious about how others are doing, and want to take stock. If you're a nobody then, or now, then you'll probably not want to attend at all.

John Cusack plays Martin Blank, a professional hit-man whose at the crossroads of that decision. 10 years ago, he abandoned his date for the prom, and never made contact ever since. Also, he's wondering how he could possibly tell anyone about his current profession. He's also finding that life is becoming meaningless, and is seeking for something to lift him up from the doldrums.

His secretary (played by real life sister Joan Cusack - there are a total of 4 Cusack siblings in this movie) arranges a perfect opportunity for him to mesh work and play, and packs him off back to Grosse Pointe. Naturally he seeks out his old flame Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), and tries his best to make amends by offering to go to the reunion with her.

However, his nemesis and hit-man rival Grocer, played to hilarity by Dan Ackroyd, is mad at Blank for not wanting to join up in his union, and he wants to bump Blank off. He's provided with some of the best dialog, and banters with Cusack so well, you just beg for more of their scenes together.

It's a quirky movie (aren't most of Cusack's movies) which is thoroughly enjoyable with its excellent selection of songs, wonderful dialog, and delightful action toward the end. Watch out too for a short appearance by Jenna Elfman! The Code 1 DVD is nothing to shout about - the bare bones version.

School reunion nostalgia

[safenoe · 9/10 · 21 November 2021]

I love Grosse Pointe Blank and its subtext of the high school reunion with everyone benchmarking themselves against each other. The casting is perfect, with John Cusack born to be in this movie.

Maybe there can be a reboot with acclaimed British actor playing the lead.

What ever happened to ....

[malcolmjohnston · 9/10 · 21 November 2021]

Watched this for the first time in 20 years and all I could think of was "what ever happened to John Cusack and why doesn't he make great films like this???" Fantastic sound track to a black comedy.

I'm drawing a complete...

[Noir-5 · 8/10 · 8 January 1999]

Good movie. Particularly the part where John Cusack is using the frying pan to put his point across to the bad guy on the kitchen floor. It's hard not to belly laugh. I thought it took cues from 'Blue Velvet', with its uncommon blend of humour and ultra-violence.

I read that parts of the dialogue were contributed by Cusack and a couple of [real-life] school friends, though cannot confirm this. It's believeable though - for example when he meets the legal guy propping up the bar at the re-union. His offering of the pen, the aside that Cusack should 'read the cap' and asking to use the funny quip - 'they all seem kinda related' - must have been based on a real person. Too sad to be fiction.

Minnie [cab] Driver, Joan Cusack and Dan Ackroyd personalise their performances very well. The support cast were excellent too. The music was an oddly enjoyable mix and the fight sequence with the pen was the most realistic (and exhausting) I'd seen. It was the attention to small detail which swung it in the end though. Cusack's buddy's coke-fuelled, paranoid banter was spot on ("Jenny Slater, Jenny Slater") as was the burning the fingers on the furnace, to name just two random details. The effect of this, is that they all add up to a movie which you can enjoy watching many times. And that makes it a rare gem.

Love it

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 3 April 2020]

Interesting documentary. A day in the life of a professional hit man

Original mix of romantic comedy and violent gangster shootouts.

[imseeg · 7/10 · 9 June 2020]

John Cusack (hit man) has got a violent feud with Dan Akroyd (another hit man). In between there is a budding romance with Minnie Driver and when I say " in between" I mean literally in between the shootouts and sometimes even DURING the shootouts. Hilarious. Original.

Weird, yet quite unique combination of violence and romance. It's literally like a gangster shooting someone and a second later proposing to marry his high school sweetheart. Sounds silly? Wait till you see it and seeing it you must if you are into black gangster comedies.

The good: produced by John Cusack himself, meaning he had control and it shows. The jokes are spot on and the story is refreshingly original, however weird it might be. Nice eighties soundtrack as well.

Any bad? It's a bit silly. So what? It's meant to be out of control silly, THAT's the fun of it.

Great screenplay

[sjanders-86430 · 10/10 · 15 February 2021]

Minnie Driver is a deejay in John Cusack's Grosse Point Blank. She has been waiting 10 years since he deserted her at their high school prom. Dan Ackroyd wants to form an assassin's union. The film starts out with an assassination gone wrong and Cusack opts to go to Detroit for his high school reunion and a last hit. There Dan Ackroyd and others are trying to kill him. The high school dance is very unique for an assassin film. Cusack holds a baby and feeds it. Strange. But soon after there is the most memorable shootout where a house is completely destroyed. This is a memorable film. Joan Cusack plays a wonderful assistant and delivers the best performance. Ann Cusack is also in the film. It was filmed in L.A. Jankiewitz wrote the story. Alan Arkin is great as Blank's psychiatrist.

I bought it for $5

[MrsRainbow · 9/10 · 20 January 1999]

Great soundtrack, solid cast, and so many offbeat moments make this a great watch. I love the scene where Cusack and Driver meet for the first time in 10 years. Weave back and forth warily, kiss frantically for five seconds, and then withdraw and stare again. It's very hard to pick a best scene but I would choose Cusack talking to Driver's father before they head out to the reunion. Love the dialogue. And I'm not a child of the 80s.

Quirky, lively, kind of like Cusack himself

[ill_behavior · 8/10 · 24 October 2003]

Cracking little film, great fun.

The chemistry between the characters is good, the dialogue is funny, the premise itself is a novel idea and it could have been really poo, but it wasn't. It's dark, but at the same time manages to float very lightly

"They all have husbands and wives and children and houses and dogs, and, you know, they've all made themselves a part of something and they can talk about what they do. What am I gonna say? "I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How've you been?" "

The fact that movies now have to be events that are glorified Mcfilms takes away the reasoning of why films like this should be more popular, but aren't.

Watch it.

Public Is Smarter, More Moral Than Film Critics

[ccthemovieman-1 · 1/10 · 10 October 2007]

When it comes to movies, the public usually will give you a lot better idea about the merits of a film. I can't recall how many times I have seen a "critics favorite" be a piece of garbage while another film the critics dismiss was a big hit and a good movie to watch.

This is another example of one of those critics' favorites, one of these modern- day black comedies in which the humor is almost nonexistent and the characters are mostly annoying. Make no mistake: Minnie Driver IS annoying, big-time, in the female lead "Debi Newberry."

I like quirky characters in films, but if you don't pull it off right, those weirdos aren't funny, they are just dumb. In "Fargo," they are funny; in this they are stupid. And if you are looking for good-guy hit men (oxymoron?) stick with Jean Reno in "Leon,." not John Cusack's character in this box-office flop.

Give the public credit: it has infinitely more sense than your daily newspaper critics.

Has it all.

[dasa108 · 10/10 · 13 December 2022]

Great cast full of recognized stars to offer this hybrid of comedy and action. All the elements to generate attraction in the spectator are present: we have John Cusack at the height of his stellarity while they appear from the undefeated kick boxing champion Benny Urquidez or the enormous Alan Arkin. A murderer must face innumerable situations to test himself, find a purpose in life and in turn allow us to enjoy the progress of the film. It is a very good film in every way. Good direction, imaginative script and great performances. Has it all. Highly recommended for anyone who likes action and comedy.

More like a club. Work less, make more.

[secondtake · 7/10 · 29 July 2009]

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

More like a club--work less, make more.

Get past the glitches and a couple slow spots and the iffy romance, and look at the dozen or so utterly hilarious scenes and you have a movie to die for. There are lots of subtle comments, and subtle facial movements and gestures, to make a careful viewing really pay off. If you stick to the big effects it might be disappointing, so give more weight to the writing and acting. It's a comedy, don't forget, and almost every line is funny.

John Cusak is restrained and comical, and can be clever and combative with Dan Aykroyd, wistful with Minnie Driver, and neurotic with Alan Arkin, who has the funniest moments in the film. Throw in three (count them) other Cusaks as supporting actors, and the ever pointed Jeremy Piven. Oh, and Hank Azaria, too. Quite a cast, and each has his or her great moment.

The plot isn't really the point, so it barrels along from hit to hit (so to speak), and has a terrific soundtrack to pump it up, and basically serves as a way for us to see one funny situation after another. There is a purpose to most of it, though, and by the end there is a climax, and a resolution to the love situation that may or may not be satisfying. But who cares? You'll be laughing, and marking the times for the funny scenes so you can see them again.

Mostly Hits the Mark

[kenjha · 7/10 · 11 April 2010]

A hit man returns to the Detroit area for his high school reunion, coincidently the location of his next assignment. This is an enjoyable comedy that just doesn't quite put it all together; the mixture of comedy and violence is somewhat jarring. The cast is terrific. Cusack does well as the hit man who tells everyone that he's a professional killer, and of course everyone thinks he's kidding. Sister Joan is amusing as his loyal secretary while Aykroyd has fun as a maniacal rival hit man who wants Cusack to join him in some sort of hit man union. Arkin is funny as Cusack's reluctant shrink. Even the much-maligned Driver is fine as the love interest.

This is the much better version of KILL BILL not to mention it came FIRST!

[jaimhaas · 10/10 · 15 June 2020]

Why does that weirdo Tarantino get so much credit when he rarely puts out anything original? This so much better than the ordinary comedy with a hitman twist. This delivers Cusack is a premium actor and the supporting cast is just as good. Put his one on your list of all-time greats.

Darkly Cynical, even Nihilistic

[skepticskeptical · 6/10 · 3 August 2019]

Grosse Pointe Blank is a whirlwind of a film--no chance the viewer will be bored. But it is quite unsettling in its underlying message, which can be summed up as: ¨Everything is nothing, and nothing is everything.¨ The female protagonist is pathetic, and the depiction of her veers toward a more general misogyny. No matter how horrific the truth is, there is a woman desperate enough to accept it, having once been jilted by a lover who shows up ten years later?

The main theme of this film is just kind of horrible, morally speaking. But it is so kaleidoscopically multigeneric--or, rather, intergeneric--that one can easily ignore any questions of meaning, spending one´s time instead on the multifarious elements of action, noir, romantic comedy, nostalgic comedy, human interest story, etc. Put simply, Grosse Pointe Blank is a big fat garbage pizza of a film. That said, I do own that it is thought-provoking. I imagine that most people who rave about this creation don´t spend much time thinking about its many disturbing implications.

The accompanying music is a walk down memory lane for anyone who was listening to pop music in the 1980s. Not sure whether anyone else will appreciate the score.

Entertaining, well written, great cast.

[z-gorey · 8/10 · 9 March 2020]

Absolutely enjoyable movie with a great 80's soundtrack. Action, romance, comedy. If you're a John Cusack fan this is one for the list. I'm not a fan of Minnie Driver but even she is tolerable in this flick. Basic premise; a hitman goes to his high school reunion.

It's just a favorite for many good reasons

[stevojaxon · 8/10 · 3 March 2020]

This is a movie that appealed to me and has repeatedly done so. Nostalgia, soundtrack, the idea, the execution and in my opinion, Cusack was at the top of his game. The whole hitman nervously in love theme was a winner for me.