Dive bar scene
The dive-bar interlude is the final preferred scene. Other favorites include the opening credits, quad football, the pool encounter, the Tim Robbins car ride, the accidental cuddle, the Hawaiian party, and the professor reading the final essay.
In the discussion (2)
- The dive-bar interlude is the final preferred scene.
- Other favorites include the opening credits, quad football, the pool encounter, the Tim Robbins car ride, the accidental cuddle, the Hawaiian party, and the professor reading the final essay.
Letters and cordless phones
Long mailed letters to friends are selected as a defining 1985 detail. The cordless-phone phrase, letters to an adult magazine, Culture Club poster, and physical ride bulletin board are additional 1985 candidates.
In the discussion (2)
- Long mailed letters to friends are selected as a defining 1985 detail.
- The cordless-phone phrase, letters to an adult magazine, Culture Club poster, and physical ride bulletin board are additional 1985 candidates.
Soundtrack and college life
The soundtrack is praised as having aged well, with several featured songs named. The film's vision of 1980s college life, including classes, parties, schedules, and Southern California campuses, is praised. Young Cusack and the prospect of spending the next 40 years watching him are offered as having aged well.
In the discussion (3)
- The soundtrack is praised as having aged well, with several featured songs named.
- The film's vision of 1980s college life, including classes, parties, schedules, and Southern California campuses, is praised.
- Young Cusack and the prospect of spending the next 40 years watching him are offered as having aged well.
Wallet reveal
The reveal of the wallet left in the bed is praised as especially well staged. The dolly shot following Gibb beside the pool is another candidate.
In the discussion (2)
- The reveal of the wallet left in the bed is praised as especially well staged.
- The dolly shot following Gibb beside the pool is another candidate.
Thinly drawn romantic alternatives
The Sure Thing and Allison's boyfriend are criticized as caricatures who function mainly as plot props.
In the discussion (1)
- The Sure Thing and Allison's boyfriend are criticized as caricatures who function mainly as plot props.
Hitchhiking and dated conventions
The dated comic accent and using stars and outer space to humanize boys are criticized. Walter Gibson's name, creative-writing workshops, and hitchhiking are raised as dated elements. Traveling cross-country solely to pursue sex is considered obsolete in the era of dating apps.
In the discussion (3)
- The dated comic accent and using stars and outer space to humanize boys are criticized.
- Walter Gibson's name, creative-writing workshops, and hitchhiking are raised as dated elements.
- Traveling cross-country solely to pursue sex is considered obsolete in the era of dating apps.
John Cusack
John Cusack's heightened hitchhiker performance is the choice and is considered necessary to the scene.
In the discussion (1)
- John Cusack's heightened hitchhiker performance is the choice and is considered necessary to the scene.
Gibb and Allison's future; 1980s teen-movie ranking; Daphne Zuniga's unrealized career path
The couple are predicted to have met too early for a permanent relationship because freshman-year changes and academic uncertainty would strain them. One forecast has the relationship end after he drunkenly kisses someone else and she never forgives him; it may not survive the first summer. A conflicting forecast says they make it through most of college before he wants to be himself and do something else. Risky Business and The Sure Thing are ranked first and second among 1980s teen movies, followed initially by The Breakfast Club, The Karate Kid, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The Karate Kid is then removed from the teen-movie ranking because it is considered more a sports movie, leaving The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off on the four-film list. Daphne Zuniga is argued to have deserved Brat Pack membership and to have been preferable to Ally Sheedy in St. Elmo's Fire, The Breakfast Club, and Bad Boys. One Crazy Summer is used to compare Demi Moore's role with the kind of part Daphne Zuniga played, prompting speculation that Zuniga might have had a career resembling Moore's.
In the discussion (7)
- The couple are predicted to have met too early for a permanent relationship because freshman-year changes and academic uncertainty would strain them.
- One forecast has the relationship end after he drunkenly kisses someone else and she never forgives him; it may not survive the first summer.
- A conflicting forecast says they make it through most of college before he wants to be himself and do something else.
- Risky Business and The Sure Thing are ranked first and second among 1980s teen movies, followed initially by The Breakfast Club, The Karate Kid, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
- The Karate Kid is then removed from the teen-movie ranking because it is considered more a sports movie, leaving The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off on the four-film list.
- Daphne Zuniga is argued to have deserved Brat Pack membership and to have been preferable to Ally Sheedy in St. Elmo's Fire, The Breakfast Club, and Bad Boys.
- One Crazy Summer is used to compare Demi Moore's role with the kind of part Daphne Zuniga played, prompting speculation that Zuniga might have had a career resembling Moore's.
Larry Hankin and Carmen Filpi
The trucker played by Larry Hankin is the leading choice; Carmen Flippy's bus-station character is also identified.
In the discussion (1)
- The trucker played by Larry Hankin is the leading choice; Carmen Flippy's bus-station character is also identified.
Vivica Lindfors
Vivica Lindfors as the professor is selected over Tim Robbins, Anthony Edwards, and the teacher character.
In the discussion (1)
Shotgunning beers
Shotgunning beers is the affirmative Apex choice because it becomes a recurring story device. John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Anthony Edwards, road-trip movies, hitchhiking, and the roommate's contorted position are discussed without an affirmative consensus.
In the discussion (2)
- Shotgunning beers is the affirmative Apex choice because it becomes a recurring story device.
- John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Anthony Edwards, road-trip movies, hitchhiking, and the roommate's contorted position are discussed without an affirmative consensus.
Hanks and Spielberg
The choice is Hanks and Spielberg, while Tom Cruise is imagined in Anthony Edwards's role.
In the discussion (1)
Prestige television or all-Black remake
A prestige television version and an all-Black remake are both entertained; the road-trip structure is seen as difficult to sustain across a series.
In the discussion (1)
- A prestige television version and an all-Black remake are both entertained; the road-trip structure is seen as difficult to sustain across a series.
Rob Reiner
The single Oscar is awarded to Rob Reiner.
In the discussion (1)
Final essay
The desired memorabilia is the essay read at the end, including the stained draft as an alternative.
In the discussion (1)
- The desired memorabilia is the essay read at the end, including the stained draft as an alternative.
Take the bus
The proposed lesson is to take the bus for the entire trip; the return journey and funding remain open practical questions.
In the discussion (1)
- The proposed lesson is to take the bus for the entire trip; the return journey and funding remain open practical questions.
Rob Reiner
John Cusack is acknowledged as the likely conventional winner, but Rob Reiner receives the episode's final choice.
In the discussion (1)
- John Cusack is acknowledged as the likely conventional winner, but Rob Reiner receives the episode's final choice.
Podcast choices
Most Rewatchable Scene
