On the heels of hits like Breakfast Club and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Sure Thing may have escaped the notice of viewers. However, once you see it, you cannot deny the magic and simplicity of this great little gem. It relates to us so honestly, innocently, and completely with its characters, that virtually everyone can find some element that speaks to them.
I think most people, at some time or another, have found themselves attracted to someone that they have virtually nothing in common with. The irony, is that we generally don't even wonder why. We just feel the way we do. The movie follows this idea. It never asks why someone is attracted to someone with whom they have little or nothing in common.
Walter "Gib" Gibson is in his freshman year of college in New England. He's miserable. As he states, "I've never seen so much corduroy in one place." He feels that New England girls are too stuffy and intellectual. Gib is actually intellectual himself, but you won't find him "wasting his time" with his nose in his textbooks either. His best friend, Lance (and high school best friend) is at a college in sunny California. He sends Gib a picture of a beautiful blond woman and says, "this is the ugliest girl here."
Lance invites Gib out to California for a "sure thing;" a guaranteed night of passion with a gorgeous woman played by Nicolette Sheridan. There's a catch here in the story. Gib has unwittingly found himself attracted to the class "brain" of his English class, Alison. She's certainly not the type of girl that Gib has envisioned for himself, but nonetheless, he's attracted to her. Alison could care less about someone who lives their life as carefree as Gib does. Alison can't do anything without consulting her schedule book. She's an organizational freak who is incapable of doing anything spontaneous. When Gib feels that he'll never get anywhere with her, he takes Lance up on his offer.
When Gib finds a ride across country, he doesn't realize that Alison has also signed up for a ride in the same car, as she is on her way to visit her boyfriend in California.
The film really takes off from here, as these two unlikely people begin to find something appealing about the other. Alison finds herself becoming a bit more loose, and Gib finds himself becoming a bit more responsible. But, what will happen when Gib gets to California for his "sure thing." After all, the bathing beauty is the type of girl that Gib wants, right?
For those who have not seen the film, I won't say any more about this. The beauty of this film is in the journey, not the end. The best movie I've ever seen about two people getting to know each other is "Before Sunrise." "The Sure Thing" is right up there for me as well. It's realistic, and it's easy to believe what is happening between these two characters who appear to be at opposite poles with each other.
Rob Reiner does a magnificent job as the director of this film. It's as if he has the pulse of both of these characters, and makes sure that nothing is forced to produce the ending that he envisions. In this way, he's created a realistic and yet simplistic film for anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone who is completely opposite, and how two people in this situation can really learn about themselves through someone else.
This is one of my two favorite roles played by John Cusack. He simply has Gib down cold. "Say Anything" is my other favorite. Cusack seems able to play Gib without any effort. He knows him inside and out. And he makes Gib a very likeable person, despite his "flaws."
Daphne Zuniga is equally good as the uptight Alison. She wears sweaters, and keeps herself looking ultra-conservative. Daphne is a beautiful girl, but she isn't over-the-top gorgeous, and that's important for this movie because the physical attraction is NOT what motivates these two characters.
I watch this movie whenever I feel like a light-hearted comedy that tickles my funny bone as well as warms my heart.