The Sure Thing (1985)

Load of rubbish!!

A Disappointing Continuation

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I have to say, this was a stupid funny film that ever was out in the 80s. John Cusacks character is like such an annoying brat that you definitely wouldn't want to be his classmate at all lol. Whereas Daphne Zuniga is like your typical girl who's fed up with life and of course, peed off with him but still cares about him. Yknow after watching the movie, I couldn't believe Cusack was 17 that time and Zuniga was the princess in Space Balls! That's mad like you wouldn't think these actors in this underrated film would turn out to be big than you actually think!It's a good movie, although I think the girls parents who kicked them both out of the car, shouldn't have been bothered being added onto this movie. It was too short of a role for Robbins and Persky's role as the parents as it seems they were rather neglectful here or was that the idea of the story? That's just the only complaint I have with this film!Anyways I'm glad Cusacks and Zunigas characters lived happily ever after! 8/10

it's not one of John Cusak's best films but it is worth watching. The only thing that disappointed me was that there wasn't a strong chemistry between his character Gib and Daphne Zuniga's character, you really can't feel the spark until the very end when the teacher is reading his paper about "The Sure Thing." I think the best parts of the film are his dream sequences and when he's showing her how to drink beer properly. If anything, the film really shows the birth of John Cusak's characters and how he plays them; the quirky over educated love enthused guy who's waiting for "that dare to be great situation" (if i may quote "Say anything"). A well deserved must see.

Gib Gibson {John Cusack}is on to a "sure thing," the treasure at the end of every horny male college student's rainbow, a guaranteed night of passion with a babe and no strings attached. But there are troubles in his way. Firstly, this "sure thing" {in the shapely form of Nicollette Sheridan} is on the other side of the country, thus he has to hitch his way to nirvana. Secondly, circumstance sees him hitching with his prim and proper class mate, Alison {Daphne Zuniga}, a problem since they really have different ideals and approaches in life.The 80s, a time of "interesting" fashions and lots of hairspray. Also the time of John Hughes and a raft of teen comedies/coming of age semi-serious fluff-a-like dramas. Perhaps, given its make up, the biggest surprise is that The Sure Thing isn't a John Hughes picture. Written by Steven Bloom & Jonathan Roberts, it's directed by Rob Reiner {This Is Spinal Tap/Stand by Me}, with Reiner gleefully remaking Capra's immensely superior It Happened One Night, only for the 1980s colourful tweeners.Naturally it's all too predictable, with some stuff coming off as unimaginative copy-cat scripting, and unlike the Capra movie, The Sure Thing as telling entertainment does not, as some nostalgic 80s lovers proclaim, hold up well today on a revisit. What is evident tho is that Reiner's direction, given the time it was made, is accessible and unhindered by the sign posted nature of the beast. No overwrought angst here, Reiner chooses to focus on the two principals and steers clear of plot twisters and shockers. That has to be applauded, as does the performance of John Cusack, who here in his first full lead portrayal, serves notice of the shtick that would shape the rest of his popular career. That can't be said of Zuniga tho, whose subsequent post "Sure Thing" film career says far more about her ability than I personally wish to write.The only "Sure Thing" here is that I'm sure to annoy the 80s nostalgists who love this film. Yet I'm one of that nostalgic number too, my thick-skin is honed from affection for the likes of Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and Cameron Crowe's excellent Say Anything {Cusack again superb}. But no! The Sure Thing deserves to stay back in 1985 where it belongs, matted down by lashings of hairspray. One really should seek out It Happened One Night instead of suffering the unadventurous writing that, here, is hidden by the affable charm of its leading man. 4.5/10

What happened to the once so great director Rob Reiner? In the beginning of his directorial career he won critical praise with movies like This is Spinal Tap, Stand by me, The Princess Bride, When Harry met Sally, Misery and The American President. And then... the magic disappeared. What the hell happened? A movie that absolutely belongs in his great movies list, is The Sure Thing (1985), Reiner's directorial debut. After watching this movie for probably the 20th time or so, I just had to write a comment for the IMDb. This is an absolute classic!I guess nobody else but Rob Reiner could have turned this story - about a boy who's willing to travel 3000 miles in order to get laid - into a great, hilarious and classy (road)movie. All the performances are great. John Cusack... well, what's not to like about his character Gib? He's funny, charming and crazy in a positive way. Other (now) great stars make their appearance: Tim Robbins, Anthony Edwards and even the gorgeous Nicolette Sheridan (of Desperate Housewives fame) in the title role. As "the sure thing" she is as sexy as hell! Even old timer Viveca Lindfors as the literature teacher is brilliantly cast! But the one who really steals the show is Daphne Zuniga. She starts out as this stiff all-work-and-no-play girl and changes into a woman who enjoys life and likes to take (small) risks.The Sure Thing is one of those hidden treasures of the eighties. Well written and greatly acted. Rob Reiner at his best!9/10