I have grown up and lived in Michigan for all of my sixteen years. I can't imagine living outside Michigan and of course our state is not the setting for many Hollywood movies. There have been a few movies set in Michigan like the American Pie films, Beverly Hills Cop and Robo Cop. Grosse Pointe Black from 1997 is another one of the few films set in my state as the city of Grosse Pointe is right next to Detroit. This is a film that tells many things about a relationship that was formed after ten years and which includes the CIA in the plot. This is a fun and different film and one that has unfortunately been kind of forgotten.
The acting from John Cusack and Minnie Driver might be what we have seen before from them in a dozen other films but they are very good here. Cusack and Driver are intelligent and likable with Cusack bringing a unique personality to the role. Both lead characters have chemistry working off each other and there is a good supporting cast with Dan Aykroyd, Jeremy Priven and Alan Arkin.
This film has a decent amount of meat to it and it is a film that is a little hard to figure out once we get in the middle of the CIA plot. That said, the film does kind of unwind a little as we get into it with the characters and their behavior going in directions that really don't fit the story at all. I wasn't sure if some of these confusing scenes were just thrown-in material or if this was all scripted like that on purpose but I didn't care for it, and I thought it made the film a little uneven.
Grosse Pointe Blank certainly has it moments in spite of some rough spots. It is a fine film from the late 90's that is smart, kind of quirky and has a fun edge. Being set in Michigan gives it a close to home feeling that makes it even better for me. I recommend Grosse Pointe Blank.
4/5
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