Sacco a pelo a tre piazze

Bearing in mind all the obvious issues with this film, it is a great surprise to me that it is one of my favourites. Firstly, it is a romantic comedy. I don't "do" romantic comedy. I am one of those males who the thought of softening to a rom-com reduces to a pre-teen "err, I wouldn't kiss a girl" state. I enjoyed 'Last of the Mohicans' but that was an adventure with a romantic element. This is definitely a rom-com, dead square and centre. Secondly, the whole film is so dated {to an era which was not the greatest of my life). Within five minutes of the start, with the music, clothes and 'Miami Vice' font, I would expect anyone born before 1975 to be able to date this film to within 1 year either side. Thirdly, despite the journey, not enough is made of location to describe this as a road movie. Lastly, the plot is entirely predictable within the rom-com formula. As soon as the male and female leads fall out you know what is going to happen by the end of the film... (whoops, is that a spoiler!?!).

Despite these problems, 'The Sure Thing' hits the mark. This era produced some now badly dated and still immensely enjoyable American films like 'Ferris Bueller', 'Weird Science', 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Flight of the Navigator'. Like those films, the script, acting and direction are first-rate: you can laugh at and laugh with the Cusack character and understand why he gets up the nose of the Zuniga character. There are many genuinely funny moments and an underlying humour through it all. The minor parts - the party animal, the geek, the irritating couple - are all stereotypes but sympathetically drawn. Campus life is fun but innocent fun. Yes, there is drinking and fooling round, but no drunkenness, fighting, drugs or pregnancy. This is the ultimate appeal of the film, and it is a nostalgic one. It is innocent and simple like you wish your teenage years had been. The way the central characters draw together and meet halfway, not one adapting to the other, sustains the film throughout. For all its obviousness, this is an enjoyable film to watch.

This movie has GOT to be the most underrated movie of the 80's if not of all time. When you consider the relatively young age of the actors, Daphne Zuniga was 22 and John Cusack was only 17, and it was only Rob Reiner's second film, it makes this film that much more of a milestone. Maybe the storyline is predictable, so what. The acting by Cusack and Zuniga is perfect. They make this movie seem real and honest.

What makes this movie so enjoyable and memorable is the feelings it provokes. Remember the rush of emotions when you first meet someone who makes your heart beat out of your chest and feel lightheaded? Acting like you really don't like someone when deep down inside you would give anything to be with them? Going to a party and flirting with other people hoping that they would see you and get jealous? That's what this movie does for me. It makes me realize just how much I miss the innocence, passion and emotion of those days. The acting is wonderful and you really get drawn in to their plight as they make their way across the country to be with the one they "think" is their own "sure thing". The great thing about this movie is that every time it looks like they are finally going to get together, something pulls them apart. While there are many funny lines and memorable scenes in this film, by far my favorite is at the end when Gib's essay is read aloud. Allison's facial expressions let you know just how painful it is for her to hear it. The final scene is wonderful. I tear-up whenever I see it, and I'm a guy.

Check Rob Reiner's bio in virtually any film resource and they don't even mention this movie. Why this is so is beyond me. This is one of the overlooked gems of the 80s. I would rank it as one of Reiner's three genuine classics, along with THE PRINCESS BRIDE and THIS IS SPINAL TAP. Neither Cusack nor Zuniga could have been any better, and yet Reiner shows his directorial skill by including a cast of supporting characters that's as quirky and memorable as the leads. If you're looking for a teen romance road comedy (that isn't a gross-out soft-core flick in disguise), check this one out!

Having fallen for John Cusack's engaging performance as Rob in 'High Fidelity', I jumped at the chance to watch one of his earliest films, 'The Sure Thing'. And, despite a life-long hatred of "girly" films and all things romantic comedy, this slice of 80s college cheese surprisingly hit the spot.

The story is nothing new: boy (an effervescent Cusack as Walt Gibson) meets girl (Daphne Zuniga), and an antagonistic relationship is formed. He hates her studious, organised approach to life; she frowns upon his laddish, devil-may-care attitude. Inevitably, they are soon thrown together - namely by Gib's trip to California on the promise of a blond, beautiful "sure thing" from best friend Lance (Anthony Edwards) coinciding with her journey to visit her boyfriend - and opposites begin to attract.

Yet to complain that the plot is predictable would be to miss the point. You know the ending within the first five minutes: it is the journey there which is important. Director Rob Reiner handles the script with a necessarily light touch, and allows the humour to be more character-driven than situational. To the writers' credit, even the film's most obvious scenes are always relieved through it's witty and eminently quotable dialogue.

What elevates 'The Sure Thing' above the ranks of its genre contemporaries is Reiner's deft hand with a character; in particular his ability to transcend stereotypes yet create instantly recognisable, believable people, a feat he later put to effective use in 'Stand By Me'. This is underpinned by Cusack's energetic performance, showcasing what has become his staple character: the spikily droll male whose shining qualities just avoid being undermined by his easily discernible flaws.

'The Sure Thing' is also notable for its treatment of - and fondness for - the minor characters, few of whom suffer from the "obvious spare part" phenomenon of so many high school based films. Particularly commendable are Tim Robbins' disappointingly brief turn as one half of the cutesy couple from hell, and a remarkably young-looking Anthony Edwards in the long-term buddy role (notable especially for what must be one of the worst 80s fashion statements since Vanilla Ice decided on baggy trousers - see the pool scene featuring Lance's phone call from California).

Despite its premise, this film always endeavours to be about love rather than sex. A refreshing angle on a well-worn tale, 'The Sure Thing' provides a welcome escape from the 'American Pie' view of teenage romance. With consistently endearing performances from both Cusack and Zuniga, this is one romantic comedy I would happily give a second viewing.

...not just for Gib and Alison, but definitely for this reviewer, who saw this movie for the first time in August 2004!

The plot is simple enough, but Reiner's direction makes the movie a true gem; as do the efforts of Cusack and Zuniga--plus the supporting cast, which include a pre-'Goose' Anthony Andrews and a truly funny Tim Robbins (he's less funny nowadays, of course, but in '85 he exhibited definite comedic talent).

I've decided that this one's right up there with my favorites. One of those movies, with endless quotable lines, that charms you out of your wits without even trying.

Till Noever, Author: KEAEN, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, www.owlglass.com