The Sure Thing Rating: Retail Price: $29.95 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: John Cusack Daphne Zuniga Anthony Edwards Tim Robbins Complete Cast (10 total)

The Sure Thing Reviews

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Archetypal Quest
Some say the only great stories are about Quests for ITEMS such as The Holy Grail or The Lost Ark of the Covenant. But in many books and movies the true story is the QUEST, not the item at the end of the quest. "The Sure Thing" confirms this fact, as the main characters (Cusack and Zuniga) quest together for their respective CA-based goals. Plenty of interesting occurrences on their quest and together they provide an enjoyable movie.

Wonderful 80s Romantic Comedy
"The Sure Thing" (1985) is perhaps one of the most underrated comedies of an era that was bursting at the seams with romantic comedies.
John Cusack stars as Walter Gibson ("Gib"), a college freshman who is attending school at an unnamed Ivy League college. He is disappointed that his romantic life is somewhat lacking (although, inexplicably, his unattractive, overweight rommate is scoring a lot of action) but sees hope with Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an extremely uptight, prissy girl who adheres to routine like a religion that is in his English class. Gib's high school friend Lance (Anthony Edwards, just before his breakout in "Top Gun") has gone to school out in Southern California and invites Gib to come out over the Christmas break as Lance has a girl that is a "sure thing" and Gib is sure to score. Gib ends up in a cross-country adventure with the prissy Alison, heading out to California to visit her equally uptight and unexciting fiance Jason (Boyd Gaines), and nutty Gary Cooper (Tim Robbins, in an early film role) - - "but not that Gary Cooper that's dead" and Mary Ann (Lisa Ann Persky), two people that are so perky and into showtunes that you wish that Gib would hurl himself out the car window.
As can be expected, Gib and Alison develop feelings for one another during the road trip. What happens when they get to California? Will Gib hook up with The Sure Thing (Nicollette Sheridan)? Will Alison stay engaged to Jason? Will she realize that Gib is perfect for her?
The ending should be absolutely no surprise but the journey is all the fun.
Rob Reiner does a terrific job with this little film, and John Cusack is simply awesome! This role, along with Lloyd Dobler from "Say Anything", really put him on the map. His Gib comes across as a funny, romantic, touching guy - - not a partyer, not a horndog. You can really relate to Gib, and that makes him real. And it makes the movie work. The story is nothing new, but with Cusack at the helm, the movie takes off.
Daphne Zuniga as Alison is perfectly cast. She's a pretty girl, without being standout stunning, and her gradual realization that there is more to Gib than meets the eye doesn't seem forced.
If you're feeling nostalgic for the 80s, or want to watch a great, underrated movie from the 80s, put this one in. You won't be disappointed!

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