The Sure Thing

Walter 'Gib' Gibson (Cusack) is a college freshman, whose wise-guy patter just doesn't work on the girls at his snow-bound northeastern college (complete with roommate who is a surprising hit with the ladies and spends his time writing imaginary readers letters to 'adult' mags).

He is thus seemingly destined to spend Christmas alone after failing to woo Allison (Daphne Zuniga,) an uptight fellow classmate from his English Class.

Lance (Anthony Edwards from "Top Gun"), a friend from high school, invites him to spend the break with him in sunny California where he is partying every night. What's more, Lance has set Gib up with a "Sure Thing", a bikini-clad blonde who Gib is assured will gladly do whatever he wants her to do...

Obviously, this is an offer he can't refuse (could anyone?), so he decides to go see what rides he can share across contry to fulfill this fantasy...

Meanwhile, Allison (Zuniga), the cute but somewhat bookish girl, is also looking to go see her equally anal-retentive boyfriend in California and as you might expect (well, this is the movies, after all) she and Gib both independently sign up for the 'car share from Hell' with a couple of drama students (Tim Robbins and Lisa Jane Persky) who have taken one too many "happy pills"...

So, together, they begin a road trip across America but things don't quite go to plan (do they ever?)

They soon tire of the drivers plans to sing show tunes at the top of their voices all the way across the USA and Gib manages to get himself and Allison thrown out of the car and they are left to hitch, with no money, no shelter and extreme dislike for each other.

Gradually this changes, and Gib begins to think of what will happen when he comes face to face with "The Sure Thing". They finally get to California, with the help of a Truck Driver, who "never had a sure thing in all my life", and the party starts. Will Gib go through with it, or try to win Allison?