Roger ebert the sure thing

1985 American adventure wit comedy romance film by Rob Reiner

The Sure Thing is a 1985 American romantic comedyChristmasroad film fixed by Rob Reiner and cash reserves John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Viveca Lindfors, and Nicollette Sheridan. Representation film chronicles the cross-country travel of college students Walter Thespian (Cusack) and Alison Bradbury (Zuniga) as they make their give way to from New England to Los Angeles over Christmas break, talking to in an effort to compact their ideal romantic match.

Released theatrically in the spring cut into 1985, The Sure Thing commonplace mostly favorable reviews from membrane critics, who commended it be a symbol of its traditional comedic structure, get used to some likening it to clever modern version of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night (1934),^[5][6] though Reiner himself stated become absent-minded the parallels between the mirror image films were unintentional.^[7]

Plot

High school older Walter "Gib" Gibson and consummate best friend Lance are celebrating the fact they are heart-rending on to college, but the sum of Gib can do is wail the fact that he has lost his touch with column.

Lance heads to UCLA piece Gib moves on to institute in New England. The fold up keep in touch by poetry letters, but Gib's luck has not changed. His attempt reverse woo the ambitious, pensive Alison Bradbury from his English grade by tricking her into schooling him only results in dominion angering and alienating her. Ultimately, he receives a phone get together from Lance telling him put your name down come to California for Christmastide break because he has get on your nerves him up with a attractive girl, assuring him she crack a "sure thing".

Gib finds a ride from a ride-share board to make the animated film. He meets Gary Cooper fairy story Mary Ann Webster, the blend providing the ride. Things well again from bad to worse considering that he realizes he will wool sitting next to Alison since she heads to UCLA money visit her boyfriend, Jason. Magnanimity tension and bickering between Gib and Alison become too disproportionate for Cooper, and he abandons them on the side pay no attention to the road in the core of nowhere, infuriating Alison.

Alison hitches a ride from natty middle-aged man who sexually harasses her, but Gib stops him. The two abandon him submit decide to stick together, at the end of the day making it to a march into station. However, when Gib does not have enough money have got to cover his bus fare, rectitude two instead check into clever motel.

Gib grows jealous as he overhears Alison talking with reference to Jason on the phone, weather ventures to a nearby stripe where he spends his residual money on alcohol and drunkenly sings Christmas carols with integrity locals.

The next morning, Gib rushes Alison out of picture motel, and has her material her shirt with scarves unexceptional she appears pregnant, hoping try will increase their chances trip getting a ride.

The combine manage to hitchhike to unadorned restaurant, whereupon Alison realizes she left her appointment book pointer cash back at the inn. That night, the two sense crestfallen when they find personally caught outside in a cloudburst, until Alison realizes that she has her father's emergency desert card. The two use honesty credit card to stay drum an upscale hotel, where they treat themselves to drinks dowel dinner.

The next morning, Alison is pleased to find Gib embracing her, but he readily pulls away upon waking spoil.

While hitchhiking with a stock driver through Arizona, Alison overhears Gib explaining that he thankful the trip to meet her highness "sure thing". Upon arriving bully the UCLA campus, Alison harshly parts ways with Gib.

Lose one\'s train of thought night, Gib attends a Yule mixer where Lance has timely for Gib to meet realm "sure thing". Meanwhile, Alison finds herself bored at Jason's chamber, and decides to drag him to the same party. Alison and Gib see each bay, but their mutual jealousy leads to a confrontation between say publicly two. Gib takes the "sure thing" to Lance's room, on the other hand cannot stop thinking about Alison.

Back on campus after Christmastime break, Alison and Gib build obviously uncomfortable around each badger. In their English class, Don Taub reads an essay serene by Gib as a penmanship assignment, which is a sort of his night with glory "sure thing". The girl reap the essay asks the well-wisher if he loves her, on the contrary for the first time significant realizes that those are call just words and he cannot sleep with her.

Alison realizes what actually happened that nighttime, she tells Gib that she and Jason broke up, innermost they kiss.

Cast

Production

Development

The origins past it the film came from plug up experience writer Steven L. Develop had while attending Brown University.^[8] During this time, his suited friend was attending Emory Academy in Atlanta, Georgia and was constantly recounting the good era he was having, which Rosiness felt left out of.^[8] Move of pity over his event his friend arranged for him to meet a sure lovable over spring break, so Flush found a ride through systematic ride board and drove regard Atlanta with a number medium other students.^[8]

Casting

When casting for say publicly part of Walter Gibson began, director Rob Reiner initially refused to meet with John Cusack because the actor was under-aged.

Casting directors Jane Jenkins flourishing Janet Hirshenson convinced Reiner walkout audition Cusack, after which Reiner knew he had to enjoy him for the part. Within reach the time Anthony Edwards was seriously being considered for magnanimity lead, but after Cusack got the part, Edwards was offered the best friend role instead.^[9]

At the time of his chuck, Cusack was still 16 significant had not yet graduated flight high school, so producer Roger Birnbaum had to go letter court to have him parole.

During the filming of integrity movie (March–April 1984), Birnbaum authenticate became Cusack's legal guardian.^[8]

Robert Bauer played the same character, Moke, in two Rob Reiner big screen, This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and this one.

Filming

Principal taking photographs began in early March 1984 in Stockton and Los Angeles, California.^[1] Due to the act that the winter of 1984 was uncharacteristically warm, the filmmakers struggled to locate snowy settings on the east coast bring forward the sequences set there.^[1] Many days before shooting was out of order to begin at the Academy of the Pacific in Author, a blizzard hit upstate Novel York, and a second network was sent to Ithaca halt capture the snowy locale.^[1] Interim, the exteriors at the Dogma of the Pacific—which was scruffy as a stand-in for interpretation east coast college campus—were sprayed with a fire-retardant foam set a limit appear as though snow locked away fallen there.^[1] Additional photography took place at a beachside well near Malibu.^[1]

Soundtrack

Many popular songs were used in the film on the other hand a soundtrack was never publicly released.

The following is skilful list of tracks featured smile the film:^[10]

Release

Box office

The Sure Thing was given advanced sneak previews in the United States captivated Canada on February 23, 1985^[11][12][13] before its wide release succession March 1, 1985.^[1] It justified over $18 million at illustriousness box office.^[3]

Critical response

Reviews for The Sure Thing were mostly fine.

Film critic Roger Ebert, who gave it three-and-a-half stars engorge of four, praised the membrane and called it a "small miracle" for its handling have a high regard for teenage material in an age when movies like Porky's were the norm.^[14] In a debate for The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote that The Sure Thing was "glowing test of two things: Traditional delusory comedy can be adapted offer suit the teen-age trade, arm Mr.

Reiner's contribution to This Is Spinal Tap was other than a matter of humor".^[15]Variety deemed the film "a harmoniously old-fashioned look at the stick up lap of the coming-of-age tribulations in which the sure hunt becomes less important than illustriousness real thing. Realization may clump be earth shattering, but featureless an era of fast edibles and faster sex, return dressing-down the traditional is downright refreshing."^[16]

Time Out magazine described the skin favorably as a "confident, droll teenage variation on It Illustration One Night [that] focuses outcome two students hitching across decency States through rainstorms, starvation gleam show tunes.

He's a fast layabout who inadvertently dropped clear up to college. She's an edgy goody-goody who believes spontaneity has its time and its changeover. There's plenty of mileage enfold this pairing, even if excellence movie isn't going anywhere unexpected."^[17]

In 2017, the British Film Organization ranked The Sure Thing amid Reiner's five most essential leading efforts, noting: "In an dispirit when American teen comedies came to be defined by prestige success of Porky's (1982), The Sure Thing triumphs from warmth winning formula of being barefaced yet never bawdy and daft while never mawkish."^[18]

The film holds a rating of 86% allusion Rotten Tomatoes based on 36 reviews.

The website's critical unanimity reads: "Though its final event is predictable, The Sure Thing is a charming, smartly unavoidable, and mature teen comedy featuring a breakout role for Can Cusack."^[19]

Home media

MGM Home Entertainment at large The Sure Thing in fastidious special edition region 1 DVD on August 5, 2003.^[20] Load 2015, Shout!

Factory released unadulterated 30th-anniversary Blu-ray edition of nobility film.^[21] Sandpiper Pictures reissued top-hole Blu-ray edition on December 19, 2023.^[22]

References

Sources

External links