The Sure Thing

The Sure Thing (1985) is a road-trip romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner, starring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga — watch it online on iFILM. College freshman Gib is heading to California over Christmas break on a friend's promise of a guaranteed good time. The uptight honor student Alison is going the same direction, for entirely different reasons. They end up sharing a ride.

Gib is loose, sarcastic and almost allergic to planning. Alison has her whole future organized, including a boyfriend waiting at the other end. They clash immediately and keep clashing — until they don't. Tim Robbins shows up as an aggressively cheerful driver in one of the film's best running gags. Reiner made this the year before Stand By Me, and the same instinct is already here: two people figuring out what they actually want from each other before the destination arrives. Stream The Sure Thing online on iFILM.