The Sure Thing

The Sure Thing is a 1985 American romantic comedy Christmas road film directed by Rob Reiner and starring John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Viveca Lindfors, and Nicollette Sheridan. The film chronicles the cross-country journey of college students Walter Gibson (Cusack) and Alison Bradbury (Zuniga) as they make their way from New England to Los Angeles over Christmas break, each in an effort to meet their ideal romantic match.
Released theatrically in the spring of 1985, The Sure Thing received mostly favorable reviews from film critics, who commended it for its traditional comedic structure, with some likening it to a modern version of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night (1934), though Reiner himself stated that the parallels between the two films were unintentional.
==Plot==
High school senior Walter Gibson and his best friend Lance are celebrating the fact they are moving on to college, but all Walter can do is lament the fact that he has lost his touch with women. Lance heads to UCLA while Walter moves on to college in New England. The two keep in touch by writing letters, but Walter's luck has not changed. His attempt to woo the ambitious, pensive Alison Bradbury from his English class by tricking her into tutoring him only results in his angering and alienating her. Eventually, he receives a phone call from Lance telling him to come to California for Christmas break because he has set him up with a beautiful girl, assuring him she is a "sure thing".
Walter finds a ride from a ride-share board to make the trip. He meets Gary Cooper and Mary Ann Webster, the couple providing the ride. Things go from bad to worse when he realizes he will be sitting next to Alison as she heads to UCLA to visit her boyfriend Jason. The tension and bickering between Walter and Alison becomes too much for Cooper, and he abandons them on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, infuriating Alison.
Alison hitches a ride from a middle-aged man who swiftly attempts to rape her, but Walter comes to her rescue just in the nick of time. The two decide to stick together, eventually making it to a train station. However, when Walter does not have enough money to cover his bus fare, the two instead check into a motel. Walter grows jealous when he overhears Alison talking to Jason on the phone, and ventures to a nearby bar where he spends his remaining money on alcohol and drunkenly sings Christmas carols with the locals.
The next morning, Walter rushes Alison out of the motel, and has her stuff her shirt with scarves so she appears pregnant, hoping it will increase their chances of getting a ride. The two manage to hitchhike to a restaurant, whereupon Alison realizes she left her appointment book and cash back at the motel. That night, the two are crestfallen when they find themselves caught outside in a rainstorm, until Alison realizes that she has her father's emergency credit card. The two use the credit card to stay at an upscale hotel, where they treat themselves to drinks and dinner. The next morning, Alison is pleased to find Walter embracing her, but he quickly pulls away upon waking up.
While hitchhiking with a truck driver through Arizona, Alison overhears Walter explaining that he made the trip to meet his "sure thing". Upon arriving at the UCLA campus, Alison angrily parts ways with Walter. That night, Walter attends a Christmas mixer where Lance has arranged for Walter to meet his "sure thing". Meanwhile, Alison finds herself bored at Jason's dormitory, and decides to drag him to the same party. Alison and Walter see each other, but their mutual jealousy leads to a confrontation between the two. Walter takes the "sure thing" to Lance's room, but cannot stop thinking about Alison.
Back on campus after Christmas break, Alison and Walter are obviously uncomfortable around each other. In their English class, Professor Taub reads an essay composed by Walter as a writing assignment, which is a description of his night with the "sure thing". The girl in the essay asks the protagonist if he loves her, but for the first time he realizes that those are not just words and he cannot sleep with her. Alison realizes what actually happened that night, she tells Walter that she and Jason broke up, and they kiss.
==Cast==
* John Cusack as Walter "Gib" Gibson
* Daphne Zuniga as Alison Bradbury
* Nicollette Sheridan as "The Sure Thing"
* Viveca Lindfors as Professor Taub
* Anthony Edwards as Lance
* Tim Robbins as Gary Cooper
* Boyd Gaines as Jason
* Lisa Jane Persky as Mary Ann Webster
* Carmen Filpi as Bus Station Bum
* Fran Ryan as Lady in Car
* Larry Hankin as Trucker
* Sarah Buxton as Sharon
* Robert Bauer as Moke
Category:1985 films
Category:1985 romantic comedy films
Category:American Christmas comedy films
Category:American comedy road movies
Category:American romantic comedy films
Category:American teen comedy films
Category:Embassy Pictures films
Category:Films about hitchhiking
Category:Films directed by Rob Reiner
Category:Films produced by Roger Birnbaum
Category:Films scored by Tom Scott (saxophonist)
Category:Films set in California
Category:Films set in New York (state)
Category:Films shot in California
Category:Films shot in New York (state)
Category:Films with screenplays by Jonathan Roberts (writer)
Category:1980s American films
Category:1980s Christmas comedy films
Category:1980s comedy road movies
Category:1980s English-language films
Category:1980s teen comedy films