A flawed, but timeless classic for the whole family.

Rating: 6/10 (22 October 2017)

The Princess Bride is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year and is still considered a timeless classic. Its mix of fairy tale adventure and comedy makes it a perfect film that both kids and adults can enjoy. However, all that nostalgic glitter can't hide a mix of subpar acting, characters, and directing choices.
The characters of The Princess Bride are the usual fairy tale characters you grew up on as a kid. There's the swashbuckling hero Westley and his damsel in distress Buttercup (still one of the worst character names in film), a gallery of rogues, and the dastardly king. We are immediately attached to these characters because of their specific traits that help them stand out. However, each character only has one trait that they exhibit, making them very one dimensional and predictable.
The plot of the film is just as familiar as the characters. It's predictable, which isn't a bad thing here since we're all accustomed to classic fairy tales about true love. Buttercup and Westley fall in love, but Westley must go away to work. He is soon presumed dead and Buttercup goes into a deep depression. The king takes an interest in her and makes her his queen even though there is no love between them. Soon she is kidnapped by rogues in a plot to plunge two rival kingdoms into war.
The one thing that stands out in this film from others is that it takes place entirely inside of the book The Princess Bride (the same one the film is based on). In the real world, a young boy is sick in bed and his grandfather comes over to read him the story. He immediately exclaims his dislike of fairy tales, but his attitude slowly changes as the story continues. We as the audience are like the kid, immediately pessimistic about another fairytale movie, but then come around to appreciate the film for its charm and wit.
It's not hard to tell that the theme of here is that true love will conquer all. It's heavily present and is the only thing that keeps the story going, but what else do you expect from a fantasy film with an evil king who has taken someone's love hostage.
I feel that both parents and kids can enjoy this film, especially parents today that grew up watching it as a child. There are a few jokes that are purely aimed at adults that will go over kids heads, but most are family friendly and offer some genuine laughs.
Director Rob Reiner makes a fantasy film that ages well compared to other films in the same genre and timeframe. The jokes are still pretty fresh thirty years later and the practical effects aren't embarrassing. While Reiner perfected the preservation of this film, he did not effectively create a story free of plot holes. Some events in the film happen with little to no explanation and some details are glossed over for the sake of keeping the plot going. I'm starting to think I am nitpicking since this is lighthearted family movie, but it's hard to not pay attention to such prominent issues.
The acting throughout the film is either hit or miss. Cary Elwes as Westley is a highlight as he uses his natural charisma and good looks to create a dashing hero for the audience to root for. Robin Wright as Buttercup is the exact opposite of Elwes. She doesn't make a very good character and becomes a burden to watch. While Westley is the main character, Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya is the clear fan favorite as he strives to get revenge on the man who killed his father. His famous line "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." is said close to ten times, but gets better each time he gets closer to completing his mission. André the Giant shines as the gentle giant (practically portraying himself in real life). Wallace Shawn is also good as the annoying "Inconceivable!" guy but can be over the top and too annoying by the end of his screen time.
The Princess Bride is a family film that will live on for generations as parents pass it down to their kids. Even though flaws are present, not many films have this great a legacy and can deliver on the overplayed fairytale genre.