ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997 TAG: 9704110022
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Co-producer and -writer John Cusack stars as a hitman suffering career burnout who goes back to his 10-year high-school reunion and the girl he stood up at the prom. The result is a hip, off-center action-comedy.
Combine:
1 part Quentin Tarantino
1 part Woody Allen
1 part John Cusack
Season with a dash of John Woo, and stir lightly.
The result is "Grosse Pointe Blank," a hip action-comedy with a soundtrack that will divide generations.
Younger college-age viewers left one preview raving about the music. For older audiences, the same score is additional proof that the past decade has been a wasteland for pop music.
Moviegoers of all ages probably will agree on the casting, though. Co-writer, -producer and star John Cusack and Minnie Driver are excellent. He's Martin Blank, a hitman suffering a crisis of conscience; she's Debi Newberry, the girl he stood up for their high school prom.
With the announcement of his class' 10-year reunion, Martin has to make a decision. Does he go back to the prosperous Michigan suburb of Grosse Pointe and confront the problems he ran away from, or does he continue to be a killer for hire? The inconclusive sessions he has with his psychiatrist (Alan Arkin) suggest that he should go to the reunion. Martin is suffering career burn-out, and refuses a fellow hitman's (Dan Aykroyd) offer to form an assassin's union.
Of course, he never really got over Debi, either, and then there's the matter of a new contract he could fulfill at the same time. Two birds and all that.
The script was written by Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink and Cusack. They deftly juggle Martin's angst, familiar reunion material about people who have and have not changed since high school, and humorous violence that's aimed mostly at inanimate objects. Violence against people is fairly restrained.
Most of the comedy works well. Writer (and co-producer) Pink has a scene-stealing cameo role as a security guard named Terry. Martin is a collection of quirks, doubts and perceptive observations, but Cusack is able to turn him into a character who's sympathetic, not irritating.
He receives inestimable help from Driver. Since her debut in "Circle of Friends," she has appeared in a series of smaller supporting roles, and has been memorable in all of them. Here, she adds an element of sexy levity that brightens the sometimes dark comic tone. Unless something goes terribly wrong with her career, she's going to be a major star within the next year or so.
Veteran TV and film director George Armitage keeps the pace quick - too quick for some tastes - and doesn't let the physical action overpower the film's dry sense of humor.
Throughout, the filmmakers are attempting to combine the intelligent, off-center sensibility of an independent production with the gaudier pleasures of a studio shoot-'em-up. They're surprisingly successful.
Grosse Pointe Blank ***
A Hollywood Pictures release playing at Valley View 6. 106 minutes. Rated R for strong language, violence, some sexual material.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: John Cusack, a successful hired gun, contemplates theby CNBmeaning of life as his high-school reunion approaches. color.