Let's hit the road. (minor spoilers)

vertigo_14

The Sure Thing is great 80s teen comedy. John Cusak (in his finest of sarcasm) stars as Gib, a fellow who's not having such a hot time as a freshman at an East Coast school. His halcyonic buddy, Lance (Anthony Edwards) invites to his friend's beach house for the Christmas break. And Gib, with some coaxing, decides to take his friend up on his offer with promises of a 'Sure Thing' awaiting him (basically a former Catholic School girl played by Nicolette Sheridan).

Though, the only way Gib is getting to California is by hitching with some students, one of which is an obnoxious, hypercritical, and excessively structured classmate, Alison (Daphne Zuniga), who doesn't like Gib too well after a failed study session turned an attempt to have some fun and break a few harmless rules. Alison and Gib are total opposites, and together, they're going to have to put up with each other if they're going to get to California, where Alison is visiting her equally nerdy boyfriend at his college campus.

Being a hilarious story filled with misadventures of the two stranded students trying to make it in one piece to their respective Californian destinations, it is also a romantic comedy. Gib and Alison may start out as uncomfortable opposites with the carefree Gib (beer and porkrinds for breakfast kind of guy) and the strict Alison (her life is a day planner), but after awhile, they grow on each other. For Gib, he realizes this anticipated 'Sure Thing' isn't what he really wants. And for Alison, who starts to adapt to Gib's carefree, fun lifestyle, maybe she doesn't want to hang around with her snobbish boyfriend either. Suddenly, their expectations had to change in order to accomodate reality. Only, it's not that easy since both are, as usual, to proud to tell each other how they really feel. If you're a sucker for romantic comedies, you can't go wrong. Cusak and Zunigan were great together.

If you love 80s teen comedies, and especially if you love John Cusak (particularly in his younger roles), then you'll probably enjoy 'The Sure Thing.' It's a sweet, funny movie. I particularly love the hitchiking scene where Gib pretends to be a wandering madman.

score 7/10

vertigo_14 25 July 2004

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0227212/