Don't Blank this (Grosse Point Blank (DVD))

Member Name: mmintfresh

Product:	Grosse Point Blank (DVD)
Date:	29/07/02 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, Good film, Dialogue

Disadvantages: None

Martin Blank (John Cusack) is a hitman. He is a good hitman but recently has been getting some hassle from a fellow hitman, Mr Grocer(Dan Aykroyd)because he won't join his hitman club. Martin begins to grow weary of his job and decides that after one last hit he is going to quit the job. The last job mamnages to take him to Grosse Point, where he grew up and also where they are holding his 10 year high school reunion whihc his assistant, Marcella (Joan Cusack) has been hassling him to go to. The problem is that Martin disappeared (he ran of to the army) on the night of his prom standing up ex flame Debi (Minnie Driver). So Martin returns to find his house is now an ultimart and his mother is in a nursing home addicted to drugs. To make matters all the more worse he is humiliated on the radio by a very bitter Debi, he is being tracked by two CIA agents bent on killing them after Mr Grocer tipped them off, he is also the target of a hitman called the Goul (Benny Urquidez) and his shrink (Alan Arkin) won't help because he is terrified by him. So not only does he have to try and win Debi back he also has to stay alive.

I saw this a year or so ago on sale at HMV, it was only £3.99 and I heard it was good so I got it. What I found is that this isn't your average, cheesy romantic comedy, it is in fact a quriky, thriller romantic comedy that is actually darkly comic and is now a cult hit. Firstly the story is an unorignal idea set in an original situation. The hitman being chased by another hitman isn't anything new but a film about the hitman set around a high school dance, also Martin's feelings towards the job is also quite new, he doesn't mind the killing he is just getting bored with it. So we get a mixture of a cheesy high school reunion and killing.

The next thing that makes the film all the more watchable is the dialogue. it is quirky and filled with wit and is full of funny and quotable lines.
"Hi, remember me? I&
#39;m not married, I don't have any kids, and I'd blow your head off if someone paid me enough."
This dialogue makes many of the exchanges also very funny. The fact that all the actors are excellent adds to the fun of it and makes the dialogue all the more better, especially John Cusack. He is perfect as Blank and manages to be the perfect anti-hero in his black suits and shades. Also Minnie Driver is good as tough talking Debi. Even the minor characters are good and funny, liek the guard who obbseesviely looks after houses or the drunk man at the reunion.

The direction is good and George Armitage manages to produced some good action sequences with comedy and make the romance scenes believable and keeps the pace quick. The soundtrack is also worth mentioning, it is a collection of good hits from the eighties and will make anyone feel nostalgic. This is an intelligent and funny film that is defintely a modern classic and a must see.

Summary: