The Sure Thing

Before ...Say Anything made him a household name, John Cusack had already built an impressive resume for himself. He turned in some memorable supporting roles in films like Sixteen Candles, Class, and Grandview USA before getting a starring role in today's post, 1985's The Sure Thing.

This teen take on It Happened One Night has Cusack playing Walter Gibson, a college freshman whose in a bit of a rut with the ladies. His best friend Lance, Anthony Edwards, promises to set him up with a sure thing, Nicollette Sheridan, if he can get from New England to California over Christmas break. A sure thing is a woman who won't turn him down. Walter signs up for a ride share program unknowing that he has to share that ride with Allison Bradbury, Daphne Zuniga. Allison is a clasmate of Walter's who he is constantly butting heads with. Allison is one her way to California to spend the holidays with her boyfriend, Boyd Gaines. When the square couple, Tim Robbins and Lisa Jane Persky, that's driving the two gets tired of their constant bickering, they ditch them alongside the road. Walter and Allison decide to hitchhike the rest of the way and grow closer in the process.

I know a lot of people feel that ...Say Anything is Cusack's best teen film, but I like this one a little bit better. Cusack does a terrific job as the obnoxious but likable Walter. This was a real star making performance for him. Zuniga isn't bad. She was someone who got a lot of work in the 80's, but I always kind of found her bland.

This was the sophomore effort from director Rob Reiner, right after This Is Spinal Tap but before Stand By Me. I think this one kind of gets forgotten because it's bookended by those two, even thought it's just as good and one of Reiner's better films. The material could have came off as a silly teen sex comedy, which were big at this time. But Reiner and the likable cast make it a sweet romance.

The Sure Thing is one that definitely needs to be rediscovered.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.