A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

John Cusack plays a college freshman who is convinced by his best friend(played by Anthony Edwards) to travel cross-country to his place, where a "Sure Thing"(well cast Nicollette Sheridan!) awaits. Along for the ride to visit her boyfriend is a fellow schoolmate(played by Daphne Zuniga) who is his polar opposite, serious minded to his goof-ball. What do you think the odds are that they will discover that, despite their differences and frequent quarrels, that they're really meant to be together? The answer is obvious in this predictable(though well cast) romantic/road comedy by director Rob Reiner, that has a few laughs(Tim Robbins mostly), but not enough to compensate, and Cusack's character isn't all that endearing either, nor Zuniga's transformation. (She wasn't so bad to begin with!)

What differs "The Sure Thing" from the other romantic comedies from the mid 1980's is that this one succeeds in holding up rather superbly. Sure the story is not very original as it follows up in the annals of the most common genre in the Hollywood industry, the classic road movie. As what you'd expect the character/s travel across the country and as they tour one landmark to another, they usually embark on a quest of self-discovery and awareness of who they are whether good or bad. Lucky for our protagonists played by John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga their cross country trip sparks positive outlooks for the both of them. The young couple as we get to know them and understand them grow progressively as the film rolls on as they overcome their own perspectives of what they expect in love and also try to expunge all the negative feelings each one had for each other when we first meet them. It's a misnomer into thinking this is a traditional Brat Pack teenage sex comedy. An abundance of these films have a reputation of over-doing it with their lustful scenes. Sure "The Sure Thing" features some lust, mostly from Nicolette Sheridan, but the lust pretty much spoofs itself. And the love fantasies are just mere illusions of Cusack's definition of love."The Sure Thing" introduced us to both John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga. But what irks me was where it took them after that. Sure after playing youth-oriented roles during the 1980's, the 1990's is where Cusack's career really took off as went on to a successful career in the movie industry. It was a shame that Daphne didn't have that boost like John did. She was very effective in this pivotal role for her, and it seems she had a natural flair for comedy. The chemistry between these two couple was absolutely sublime as they played each other off very well. Zuniga was flawless as the brainy, but uptight Alison and Cusack was incredible as the laid-back loner type who does have magnetic good looks that attracts women. Sure he's intelligent and witty and can be approachable, he just doesn't have the ability to make an impact towards women.Even though some things are dated like the clothes and hairstyles and whatnot, but it still a charming film that still can be quite appealing even to this day. Sure the music is still put in the 1980's vacuum that hasn't escaped to the modern day spectrum, but it does everything it can to make it feel like it's being viewed to our time. Also look out for Oscar nominee Tim Robbins and Anthony Edwards in low-key but effective performances.

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

The Sure Thing is one of Rob Reiner's lesser known films from the 80s. It was his second feature after making his debut a year earlier with the superb This Is Spinal Tap. And although TST is just as good as anything else Reiner was producing during this period, its never gone on to cult status like his other films of the 80s. Certainly not when compared to Spinal Tap or The Princess Bride.And The Sure Thing proves that Spinal Tap was no fluke on Reiner's part. It was not beginner's luck. This is a wonderful movie. Very confident. Very funny. And in John Cusack's own words, "an absolute laugh-riot."Walter "Gib" Gibson (Cusack) is a college freshman unlucky in love. He's a young man who says much and means little. He has his eye on Alison Bradbury (Daphne Zuniga), a studious, prim and proper girl in his English class, but he's just not her type. On the rebound, Gib is invited to come down to California for Christmas by a friend, where he can get laid with no consequences, no guilt, and no strings attached. Its a Sure Thing!The only problem is that getting to UCLA is harder than he thought. Not only does he have to put up with bad weather, money troubles and sleazoid truck drivers, he's sharing his journey with Alison. On her way to LA to meet up with her milquetoast boyfriend Jason, these opposites find themselves attracting each other. Their nightmarish road trip has brought them together, but Jason and The Sure Thing are still waiting at the end of the line.The Sure Thing is the film Planes, Trains & Automobiles might have been if John Hughes had made it as one of his teen movies. And although Hughes was the undisputed king of the teens during the 80s, Rob Reiner shows quite a flair for it as well. I think its sad that The Breakfast Club and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are considered quintessential teen classics, while The Sure Thing is cruelly ignored.Reiner has clearly put a lot of thought into these two characters. Gib and Alison are not just sculpted from the textbook study of teen stereotypes. Much as he did with Spinal Tap, Reiner takes steps to make them real people. Gib and Alison start out as walking clichés and end up as human beings.The Sure Thing could seem very predictable. Right from the second Gib and Alison end up on the road together, we have a pretty good idea where this film is headed. But Reiner proves that excellent direction, expert casting and witty writing can overcome even the most familiar scenario. The film emerges as a considerable delight.One thing I especially enjoyed about TST is the way it knowingly plays into our expectations only to sidestep them wittily at the last minute. Reiner's direction is pretty deft during Gib's dream sequences. At one point we're led to believe he's scored with the girl of his dreams. But that's all it is...just a dream! Especially when The Sure Thing turns into Alison. There are lots of neat little gems like this throughout the movie. They make the film a real treat.And as always, Reiner's hand-picked an exceptional cast. In his first starring role, John Cusack rises to the occasion admirably as the glib Gib. Its a performance of sly ironies, something that Cusack would build out into a whole career. He plays Gib as someone who's just looking to get laid, when the real Sure Thing (Alison) is standing right in front of him. And he knows it, but he's trapped within teen insecurity to know what to do about it. John Cusack has always seemed an intelligent performer, and TST, along with High Fidelity and Being John Malkovich are the three finest films on his resume.Daphne Zuniga probably gets her best role here as the uptight Alison. She's not really an actress that I pay much attention to, but she does quite well here. Watching her prissily share the screen with the sex-mad Cusack is always fun, especially with Gib melting down Alison's icy exterior. There is genuine chemistry between them. They're discovery of each other is ably conveyed, even when they become confused by the emotions that come out in the process. And Alison's a girl of marvellous contradictions ("spontaneity has its time and place").My favourite character of the film (and one we don't see nearly enough of) is Gib and Alison's free-spirited English teacher Professor Taub. Played by the late Viveca Lindfors, she is absolutely delightful! Her English classes are so interesting. And she's such a charismatic and persuasive figure. She's a character that really deserves her own movie. You could easily imagine her in a female equivalent of Dead Poets Society. And the way she provides the bridge between Gib and Alison at the end is a charming touch.There are lots of good actors throughout the movie. Look out for a young Tim Robbins as Gary Cooper ("but not the one that's dead"), the car-pooler from Hell. Nicollette Sheridan as the aforementioned Sure Thing. Even Jason is allowed to develop some depth. Going from a bookish stiff to a freaked out young man when he learns Alison is in love with Gib.Despite falling within the trappings of the road trip genre, The Sure Thing, much like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, transcends its origins and becomes a sweet and appealing story. I knew Gib and Alison would wind up together. That was never in any doubt. But its the way Rob Reiner gets them together that makes this such a great movie. An underrated, addictive film that's aged flawlessly, and shows Reiner's chameleon ability to swap genres with total ease.