Viewed in
1998, 2012
Formats
VHS, HDTV
Premise
John Cusack stars as a troubled hitman sent on a job that happens to be where his high school reunion (and former sweetheart) is.
Loved
Quirky characters.
Liked
Dark, funny writing.
Thoughts
One of my favorite Cusack films of all time. Re-watching it fifteen years later, it still holds up really well.
What I loved best were the characters. From the leads to the minor roles, each was quirky and organic, even when discussing forming a hitman union or awkwardly hanging out at a high school reunion.
Cusack and Minnie Driver were freaking adorable. I'd probably watch those two characters cut coupons for two hours. Rest of the cast was just as fun. This was probably the last great role that I've seen Dan Aykroyd in. Joan Cusack was in her quirkiest best. Years before he was "discovered" in Little Miss Sunshine, Alan Arkin put in a really underrated performance as Cusack's frustrated shrink. I also dug the small moments by Jeremy Piven and Hank Azaria.
There were some brilliant moments, such as when Cusack realized his childhood house had become a convenience store, or any time someone reacted oddly when he confessed to being a professional killer. Cusack wooing Driver was precious. Even as the body count rose, the situations and characters remained organic. The obligatory shootout at the end was totally deserved thanks to the well-done story set up; it zinged hilarious one-liners while still achieving a satisfactory payoff.
As a fan, I was very happy to find out Grosse Point Blank had withstood the test of time, thanks to strong writing, quirky characters, and charming performances. Oh yeah, the 1980's soundtrack was pretty good, too.
