Search - Grosse Pointe Blank on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 05/19/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 47 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 25 Genres: Comedy, Crime, Black Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Comedy Thriller, Reunion Films See Also: Grosse Pointe Blank [Includes Digital Copy]

Most people have trouble deciding what to say when they're asked what they've been doing with their lives at a High School reunion, but Martin Blank (as played by John Cusack) has a different problem than most -- he has to make his career sound less interesting than it actually is. Martin is a former CIA operative who is now a freelance hit man, making good money for killing people he doesn't know. However, Martin's game has been a bit off lately; he's no longer happy in his work, and both his secretary Marcella (Joan Cusack) and his psychiatrist, Dr. Oatman (Alan Arkin), who is more than a bit nervous about having a hired assassin as a patient, think that Martin should accept an offered assignment in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, his old home town, which would conveniently coincide with his ten year high school reunion. While in Grosse Pointe, Martin discovers that his high school sweetheart, Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), is still living in town, and still holds a grudge against him for standing her up on prom night. While Martin tries to sort out his past and tie up loose ends with Debi (whom he still loves), he discovers someone in Grosse Pointe is out to kill him; he's also confronted by the highly unstable Mr. Grocer (Dan Aykroyd), a fellow hit man who wants Martin to join forces with him and form a union and isn't keen on taking no for an answer. Grosse Pointe Blank was a pet project for star John Cusack, who co-wrote the screenplay and also served as co-producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

John Cusack - Martin Blank
Minnie Driver - Debi Newberry
Dan Aykroyd - Mr. Grocer
Alan Arkin - Dr. Oatman
Joan Cusack - Marcella

Grosse Pointe Blank never got the attention it deserved, but it is one of John Cusack's better films. While the DVD, like most early releases, lacks supplemental features, it is nonetheless a great opportunity to see the movie's successful blend of neurotic humor and well-choreographed action with an impressive 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Sound. While it is an early transfer, the print looks good and is clear of dirt or grain. The sound outshines that of the video release and actually makes the disc an impressive sample of the audio and visual potential of DVD, at least for the early years of the format. The audio transfer also upholds the film's quirky comic interplay in its quieter moments while waiting to really deliver the goods during the action scenes. The theatrical trailer is the only special feature on the disc. While it would have been nice to hear a John Cusack and George Armitage commentary track, the disc is still worth hunting down for Cusack fans or lovers of dark comedy and gunplay. ~ Oliver Thornton, All Movie Guide