Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
More like a club--work less, make more.
Get past the glitches and a couple slow spots and the iffy romance, and look at the dozen or so utterly hilarious scenes and you have a movie to die for. There are lots of subtle comments, and subtle facial movements and gestures, to make a careful viewing really pay off. If you stick to the big effects it might be disappointing, so give more weight to the writing and acting. It's a comedy, don't forget, and almost every line is funny.
John Cusak is restrained and comical, and can be clever and combative with Dan Aykroyd, wistful with Minnie Driver, and neurotic with Alan Arkin, who has the funniest moments in the film. Throw in three (count them) other Cusaks as supporting actors, and the ever pointed Jeremy Piven. Oh, and Hank Azaria, too. Quite a cast, and each has his or her great moment.
The plot isn't really the point, so it barrels along from hit to hit (so to speak), and has a terrific soundtrack to pump it up, and basically serves as a way for us to see one funny situation after another. There is a purpose to most of it, though, and by the end there is a climax, and a resolution to the love situation that may or may not be satisfying. But who cares? You'll be laughing, and marking the times for the funny scenes so you can see them again.
More like a club--work less, make more.
Get past the glitches and a couple slow spots and the iffy romance, and look at the dozen or so utterly hilarious scenes and you have a movie to die for. There are lots of subtle comments, and subtle facial movements and gestures, to make a careful viewing really pay off. If you stick to the big effects it might be disappointing, so give more weight to the writing and acting. It's a comedy, don't forget, and almost every line is funny.
John Cusak is restrained and comical, and can be clever and combative with Dan Aykroyd, wistful with Minnie Driver, and neurotic with Alan Arkin, who has the funniest moments in the film. Throw in three (count them) other Cusaks as supporting actors, and the ever pointed Jeremy Piven. Oh, and Hank Azaria, too. Quite a cast, and each has his or her great moment.
The plot isn't really the point, so it barrels along from hit to hit (so to speak), and has a terrific soundtrack to pump it up, and basically serves as a way for us to see one funny situation after another. There is a purpose to most of it, though, and by the end there is a climax, and a resolution to the love situation that may or may not be satisfying. But who cares? You'll be laughing, and marking the times for the funny scenes so you can see them again.