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The Sure Thing (1985)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
1 March 1985 (USA) moreTagline:
He's onto a sure thing . . . but ends up on the funniest journey to romance you've ever seen. morePlot:
A college student plans a cross-country trip to get laid, but ends up traveling with a young woman. They hate each other, so naturally... full summary | add synopsisUser Comments:
The Sure Thing is as close to a sure thing as you can get moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| John Cusack | ... | Walter (Gib) Gibson | |
| Daphne Zuniga | ... | Alison Bradbury | |
| Anthony Edwards | ... | Lance | |
| Boyd Gaines | ... | Jason | |
| Tim Robbins | ... | Gary Cooper | |
| Lisa Jane Persky | ... | Mary Ann Webster | |
| Viveca Lindfors | ... | Professor Taub | |
| Nicollette Sheridan | ... | The Sure Thing | |
| Marcia Christie | ... | Julie | |
| Robert Anthony Marcucci | ... | Bobby | |
| Sarah Buxton | ... | Sharon | |
| Lorrie Lightle | ... | Lucy | |
| Joshua Cadman | ... | Jimbo | |
| Krystal Richards | ... | Girl in Photo | |
| John Putch | ... | Mastin |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
100 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12Fun Stuff
Trivia:
A poster for director Rob Reiner's previous film, This Is Spinal Tap (1984), hangs on the closet in Gib's dorm room. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: Gib takes a bite out of pink Sno-Ball snack cake while riding in the car. The film is supposed to be set during the Christmas Break. In the mid 1980's, pink Sno-Balls were only available during Valentine's Day. moreQuotes:
Alison: You'll never believe what I wanted to be when I was six.Gib: A classics professor?
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Soundtrack:
PARTY ALL NIGHT moreFAQ
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John Cusack has easily been one of the most under appreciated actors in American Cinema. Yet, ask any person to make a list of the best actors in the past twenty or so years, and his name is seldom if ever mentioned. I have yet to see him give what one what could call a really bad performance in any film he has starred in, no matter how dull or lame the material was. That being said, The Sure Thing is neither of those things, but one of the most delightful romantic comedy road pictures ever conceived.
Like most American males in High School, Walter "Gib" Gibson (John Cusack) rates his success in High School by how many girls he's had sex with and how many times. Alas, after a productive sophomore and junior year, his senior year in High School has been quite barren. In his freshman year of college, things are downright bleak. He is unable to connect with the life style of the East Coast College Girls. It seems as if everybody except Gib, including Gib's chunky roommate, is having sex with someone. To the rescue comes Gib's best friend Lantz (Anthony Edwards), who sends him a picture of a girl in a skimpy bikini (Nicolette Sheridan) and tells him she's a sure thing, if Gib can find his way out to the West Coast by Christmas. Not one to be deterred, Gib catches a shared ride with another couple (Tim Robbins and Lisa Jane Persky, both hilarious in supporting roles), and one other girl, Alison Bradbury (Daphne Zuniga), the only girl in college Gib has managed to totally alienate. Alison, as it happens is also on her way out west to be with her fiance, Jason (Boyd Gaines). To say Gib and Alison are not the best of friends is an understatement. They are complete opposites in every possible way, Gib being outgoing, daring, willing to take a chance, while Allison is totally conservative, plans everything she does in life, so much so that she keeps track of it in her Daily Schedule. How and if these two opposites are ever to come together is done in such a funny, at times hilarious, charming and touching way, you can't help but also fall in love this film.
Only his second time to direct a feature film, Rob Reiner keeps thing on track throughout. In between the many comical episodes that happens on this trip west, Reiner is smart enough to give us subtle touches that makes everything believable. As Gib begins to fall for Alison, we see him picking up some of her characteristics, and as Alison becomes attracted to Gib, she does likewise. Yet, most of the credit has to go with the cast, especially Cusack and Zuniga. They make us care about their characters so much, that we don't root for one over the other, we root for the both of them. If you are looking for a fun, charming, endearing, delightful, funny, uproarious romantic comedy, then The Sure Thing is as close to a sure thing as you can get.