The Princess Bride

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2007)

From director Rob Reiner (This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally) comes this curious bu charming and non-typecast fantasy adventure. Basically a Grandson (Austin Powers in Goldmember's Fred Savage) is at home sick in bed, and his Grandfather (Columbo's Peter Falk) has come over to visit him, and his present to him is a book, "The Princess Bride", which was read to him when he was the kid's age. The Grandfather reads (narrates) and we are taken into this world; the story of the love between the beautiful Buttercup (introducing Forrest Gump's Robin Wright Penn) and the besotted farm boy Westley (Saw's Cary Elwes), who before only ever said "As you wish" to her. They almost immediately expressed their love, oh, but the Grandson didn't want to hear about yucky kissing, anyway, their love was interrupted when Westley left and apparently died at sea, and Buttercup, heartbroken, swore never to love again. Soon enough though, she accepts the proposal of marriage from the rich and handsome, and somewhat unusual villain, Prince Humperdinck (Fright Night's Chris Sarandon). But death is no barrier for true love, and soon enough, a masked swordsmen (obviously Elwes) is having to face Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) the exotically-accented swordsmen, Fezzik (André the Giant) the big-hearted giant, Vizzini (Toy Story's Wallace Shawn) the genius kidnapper, and all the challenges of this world, e.g. swamps, rodents, etc. When Westley and Buttercup are eventually reunited they are now trying to escape the Prince and his need to marry. At some point Buttercup is taken again by the villains, and Westley is badly injured, and Inigo and Fezzik are now on his side, and taking him to Miracle Max, the Wizard (Billy Crystal) to help him. In the end, after a few fights and near-deaths, there is a happy ending, and the Grandson allows the Grandfather to mention the last "okay now" kissing. Also starring This Is Spinal Tap's Christopher Guest as Count Tyrone Rugen, Peter Cook as The Impressive Clergyman, Mel Smith as The Albino and Carol Kane as Valerie. This is a fantasy adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously, and even though it takes a few minutes to get into, it is a very likable family film. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Song for Willy De Ville's "Storybook Love". It was number 46 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films, and it was number 40 on The 100 Greatest Family Films. Very good!