Samuel-Shovel Grosse Point Blank is a serviceable black comedy. It's full of that 90's witty dialogue that Hollywood just couldn't get enough of in that era. The plot is fairly original and there is solid acting throughout. Alan Arkin is a scene-stealer in this flick and probably the funniest part of the movie. John Cusack and Minnie Driver have excellent chemistry and their scenes together are quite good. Dan Aykroyd's character is just idiosyncratic and goofy enough to work. I think he gives a great performance, one of his best. There are a few problems with the movie. The script can get a bit over the top at times. The subplot involving Hank Azaria and K. Todd Freeman is fairly unnecessary and dull. I know the producers envisioned these two partners to have witty banter back and forth but it never really works. As far as direction and cinematography goes, there's nothing really of note here. It's not bad but it's nothing special. It never distracts you from the actors or the plot so in that sense, it works.Overall, I'd give it a recommendation.

writers_reign On the whole this is an enjoyable romp which contrives to blend nostalgia with violence and romantic comedy in a fairly harmless way. Lead John Cusack who is invariably good value, scores as a hit man accepting the clichéd 'one last job' before retiring to raise alfalfa, being talked into attending a ten-year High School reunion in his home town in which, of course, he hasn't set foot in those same ten years, after walking out on his girl, Minnie Driver, plus everyone he knew. The weak link in the plot is the fact that he fails to open the envelope containing details of his latest 'contract' until virtually the last moment when he discovers - a touch too neatly - that it is, in fact, Driver's father. If you can get past that you'll probably enjoy the movie.

alisdair-92528 I love this film the dark comedy and choice of soundtrack is amazing and the cast work so well together . It works on many levels and I have to say it's amazing. John cusaac is a great actor. His ability to portray a dark souls and yet keep aspect of him redeemable and funny. Dan ackroyd is comedic genius and has a good touch of phycopathic lunacy. Joan cusaac has a great ability to to go hot and cold in a blink of an eye is perfection as the put upon assistant. Minnie driver displays a range not seen in her earlier rolls and to be honest not seen since. The whole film set around a hit man reaching a midlife crisis of sorts and having the ability to go back home. Choices made and a future of new found respect for life is fun. The action sequences are completely believable and no gratuitous unrealistic expectations of gun play and hand to hand fighting. The pen really is mightier than the sword.

Geeky Randy Professional assassin Cusack acts upon an invitation to attend his 10-year high school reunion in his home town of Grosse Pointe, Michigan where he reconnects with lost love Driver and other old friends, while also being tailed by both an assassin (Urquidez) and two National Security Agency agents (Azaria and Freeman). May have worked in 1997, but (thankfully) cinema has since found ways of creating more likable and plausible anti-heroes than what has been given here. The soundtrack is one of the film's few pluses. One of the few terrible movies that doesn't make you feel outraged by wasting two hours of your life, but it is still a heavily flawed and far-fetched outing nonetheless, despite its appealing but sadly failed concept. This probably looked excellent in script-form, but in life-action, everything seems so paper-thin. The "happy" ending is just insultingly cheap.*½ (out of four)