The Sure Thing Blu-ray Review
Walter ”Gib” Gibson (John Cusack) is a fast-talking college student still looking for that right pick-up line to charm a woman into dating him. Even his chunky roommate is having better luck than him, and offers Gib some advice with a monologue that has worked for him. Gib goes for broke and tries it on the attractive, intellectual that sits next to him in English class, Alison (Daphne Zuniga), during a tutoring session, and fails miserably (and hilariously). Gib’s buddy from high school, Lance (Anthony Edwards), who is attending college at UCLA, invites Gib to come out over winter break, promising him a sure thing with a bikini-clad blonde (Nicolette Sheridan). The only catch is Gib has to get to Los Angeles before this Sure Thing leaves. Penniless, Gib signs up to share a ride with two yuppies, Gary Cooper (Tim Robbins) and Mary Ann Webster (Lisa Jane Persky), and, of course, Alison, who is along for the ride to meet up with her long-distance boyfriend (Boyd Gaines). After an argument over spontaneity between Gib and Alison, which results in Gary being cited for several traffic violations, Gary kicks the two out of the car, leaving them stranded on the side of the road somewhere in the MidWest. Forced to travel together, the two opposites begin rubbing off on one another, as sparks of attraction and love begin to take root, only to be seemingly undone by the time they reach UCLA.
The Sure Thing, while not a perfect film, achieved two important things. First, it changed the perception of what a teen comedy could be, essentially taking Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night, and making its leading characters much younger and more modern, and dispatching most of the crude humor typically associated with the genre (the major exception being Gib’s roommate’s letter to Penthouse). Rob Reiner shows he has a hand early in his career for romantic comedy, which would prove useful later on with When Harry Met Sally. Secondly, it launched the career of John Cusack, who had been in a few supporting roles in other teen comedies (Sixteen Candles) prior to The Sure Thing, and Cusack was able to milk this type of character for the rest of the decade in films like Better Off Dead, Hot Pursuit, and One Crazy Summer, finally perfecting and graduating with his role as Lloyd Dobler in Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything. What makes the film work is the chemistry between Cusack and Zuniga, seeing Gib become more mature and responsible, while Alison becomes more adventurous. Sure, the ending is predictable, but aren’t most romantic comedies?
Audio Commentary with Director Rob Reiner: This is a satisfying track, with Reiner discussing the casting process, tidbits on the production, and his lack of involvement (out of embarrassment) in shooting the opening title sequence.
Road to “The Sure Thing” (480i; 26:16): A look at the making of the film, including interviews with Rob Reiner, producer Roger Birnbaum, John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Nicolette Sheridan, and writers Steven L. Bloom and Jonathan Roberts.
Casting “The Sure Thing” (480i; 7:18): An interview with casting directors Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson.
Reading “The Sure Thing” (480i; 5:00): Writer Steven Bloom reads the original story treatment for the film.
Dressing “The Sure Thing” (480i; 8:48): An interview with Costume Designer Durinda Wood.
Theatrical Trailer (480i; 2:56)
In the 1980s, teen comedies usually meant crude humor with sex-crazed teenagers trying to get a hot date with the school’s head cheerleader. So, for Rob Reiner to choose The Sure Thing as his follow-up to This Is Spinal Tap in 1985 may have seemed like an odd choice back then, looking back at his filmography today, it makes perfect sense.
Studio: Anchor Bay
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: English SDH
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 1 Hr. 35 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
Blu-ray keepcaseDisc Type: BD25 (single layer)
Region: A
Release Date: 03/24/2015
MSRP: $24.97
The Production Rating: 4/5
Walter ”Gib” Gibson (John Cusack) is a fast-talking college student still looking for that right pick-up line to charm a woman into dating him. Even his chunky roommate is having better luck than him, and offers Gib some advice with a monologue that has worked for him. Gib goes for broke and tries it on the attractive, intellectual that sits next to him in English class, Alison (Daphne Zuniga), during a tutoring session, and fails miserably (and hilariously). Gib’s buddy from high school, Lance (Anthony Edwards), who is attending college at UCLA, invites Gib to come out over winter break, promising him a sure thing with a bikini-clad blonde (Nicolette Sheridan). The only catch is Gib has to get to Los Angeles before this Sure Thing leaves. Penniless, Gib signs up to share a ride with two yuppies, Gary Cooper (Tim Robbins) and Mary Ann Webster (Lisa Jane Persky), and, of course, Alison, who is along for the ride to meet up with her long-distance boyfriend (Boyd Gaines). After an argument over spontaneity between Gib and Alison, which results in Gary being cited for several traffic violations, Gary kicks the two out of the car, leaving them stranded on the side of the road somewhere in the MidWest. Forced to travel together, the two opposites begin rubbing off on one another, as sparks of attraction and love begin to take root, only to be seemingly undone by the time they reach UCLA.
The Sure Thing, while not a perfect film, achieved two important things. First, it changed the perception of what a teen comedy could be, essentially taking Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night, and making its leading characters much younger and more modern, and dispatching most of the crude humor typically associated with the genre (the major exception being Gib’s roommate’s letter to Penthouse). Rob Reiner shows he has a hand early in his career for romantic comedy, which would prove useful later on with When Harry Met Sally. Secondly, it launched the career of John Cusack, who had been in a few supporting roles in other teen comedies (Sixteen Candles) prior to The Sure Thing, and Cusack was able to milk this type of character for the rest of the decade in films like Better Off Dead, Hot Pursuit, and One Crazy Summer, finally perfecting and graduating with his role as Lloyd Dobler in Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything. What makes the film work is the chemistry between Cusack and Zuniga, seeing Gib become more mature and responsible, while Alison becomes more adventurous. Sure, the ending is predictable, but aren’t most romantic comedies?
Video Rating: 3.5/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 3/5
Special Features Rating: 3.5/5
Audio Commentary with Director Rob Reiner: This is a satisfying track, with Reiner discussing the casting process, tidbits on the production, and his lack of involvement (out of embarrassment) in shooting the opening title sequence.
Road to “The Sure Thing” (480i; 26:16): A look at the making of the film, including interviews with Rob Reiner, producer Roger Birnbaum, John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Nicolette Sheridan, and writers Steven L. Bloom and Jonathan Roberts.
Casting “The Sure Thing” (480i; 7:18): An interview with casting directors Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson.
Reading “The Sure Thing” (480i; 5:00): Writer Steven Bloom reads the original story treatment for the film.
Dressing “The Sure Thing” (480i; 8:48): An interview with Costume Designer Durinda Wood.
Theatrical Trailer (480i; 2:56)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Reviewed By: Todd Erwin
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