Somehow, this Rob Reiner film got by me for decades. I was lucky enough to nab a copy on blu-ray and was more than ready to dig into. As I watched it, it put me in mind of It Happened One Night. It’s a road movie rom-com.

We get John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins, Viveca Lindfors, and Nicollette Sheridan. While the impetus for the film is a little problematic – Cusack’s Gib’ is heading cross-country for a sexual encounter with a Sure Thing (Sheridan), the film itself ends up being delightful.

Gib is in the middle of a sexual drought that plagued his entire senior year of high school, and now seems to be continuing in his freshman year at university. He is creative and charming, if a bit of a slob, and occasionally crass.

In one of his classes, he meets strait-laced Allison (Zuniga), who is smart and beautiful, but can’t seem to really relax.

Can you see this ramping up?

When Gib’s buddy, Lance (Edwards), invites him out to SoCal for the winter break, promising him a respite from his drought. He just needs to get there. So he finds a ride with Gary (Robbins) and Mary Ann (Lisa Jane Persky).

Unfortunately, Allison has also booked a ride with them to California to see her boyfriend, Jason (Boyd Gaines), who is apparently at the same university as Lance.

Things escalate, and the pair find themselves hitchhiking, trying to survive aggressive drivers, bad weather, and a building connection between the pair.

I was absolutely charmed by this film. Cusack is hilarious, Zuniga delivers a balanced and engaging performance – she’s absolutely stunning. Reiner delivers another wonderful film. And I love the fact that Gib has a Spinal Tap poster in his dorm room.

Sheridan is lovely, Edwards is hilarious, and I loved seeing Robbins in this early role.

And wow, the needle drops in this film! It’s packed with familiar and iconic 80s tunes. I think if I had watched this back in the day, this would have been one of my favorite films of my teen years. It is clever, has a typical rom-com story, and wonderful performances.

Cusack really gets to chew some scenery in some sequences, but it’s wonderful when you see the effect that both characters are having on one another.

Watching it now, it totally makes me nostalgic for that same time in my life, and that one girl…