The Princess Bride

Starring: Carey Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Andre the Giant, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Wallas Shawn
Written by: William Goldman
Director: Rob Reiner
Year: 1987

Rating: * * * *  Stars       +       (Fan Bonus  * )  Total: * * * * *


An original story presented as a classic fairy tale. Plenty of action and romance, peppered with enough satire and comedy to make it seem almost Monty Python-esque in nature, with less absurdity and more whimsy.


The film opens with the Grandfather (Peter Falk) visiting his sick Grandson (Fred Savage) at home. He presents his grandson with a book, The Princess Bride. A novel that has been in the family for generations and was read from father to son. Concerned it's going to be boring, the Grandfather assures him there is plenty of fencing, fighting, chases, escapes, true love and miracles. The Grandson gives it a shot, as long as there isn't any kissing.


The story of the Princess Bride begins with two young adults, a farm girl named Buttercup (Robin Wright) and the young farm hand Westley (Carey Elwes) who grow to love each other. Wesley joins the crew of a merchant ship. He'll be gone a couple years, but wants to make his fortune so he can marry her. This motivation is only inferred in the film, but more clearly defined in the novel. Buttercup fears she will never see him again, but Westley assures her he will return to her, as they have true love, and nothing can stop that. A few months later, she learns that his ship was attacked by the dread pirate Roberts, and that Westley was killed. She vows never to love again.


A year later, Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) announces his engagement to a common woman, Princess Buttercup. Of course she does not love him, but the law of the land allows the Prince to marry who he chooses.


One day, the Princess is kidnapped by a thief named Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) and two hired men, one an accomplished Spanish swordsman named Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and a strong, but dumb giant named Fezzik (Andre the Giant). They plan to sail her to the shores of Gilder, the sworn enemy of the Kingdom of Floren. There Vizzini plans to kill her, in hopes of instigating a war between the two kingdoms. However their plans run afoul as they are pursued by a mysterious man in black. He purses them across the sea and onto the Gilder frontier. There he bests both the swordsman and the Giant to confront Vizzini and rescue the Princess. He reveals himself to be the dread pirate Roberts. But that's not all. After besting Vizzini in a lethal game of wits, he reveals to the Princess that he is, in fact, Westley.


The lover's reunion is cut short as Prince Humperdinck arrives to save his would-be-bride. Westley is arrested, and Buttercup returns with the Prince under the assurance Westley would not be harmed. We lean that it was the Prince himself who hired Vizzini to start the war, and plans a second assassination attempt to have her killed on their wedding night. Westley escapes, only to join forces with Inigo and Fezzik as they quest to save Buttercup in time.


Like Rob Reiner's earlier work with Spinal Tap, the Princess Bride is a film in which it cleverly parodies itself. While the film establishes itself as a classic fairy tale, it then sets itself up for laughs. While no doubt kids will thrill to the action, adults will find both humor and fondness as it drudges up memories of reading stories like this when they were young. Too funny to be taken as a drama, but not enough jokes to be regulated to slapstick, Rob Reiner has this film walk that tightrope in between. Your still going to cheer for the heroes, and boo the villains, all the while with a lighthearted smile on your face. 


The cast is at their absolute best. Andre the Giant clearly gives the break out performance as Fezzik, the lovable giant. Big, strong, intimidating, yet having a heart of gold, Andre simply played himself. Those who worked with him and knew him best said he came off in that film exactly how he was in real life. Even Billy Crystal, who only worked with him for two days on the set, was so moved by who he is as a human being, it inspired him years later to do the film My Giant. Mandy Patinkin plays Inego Montoya, a lovable Spaniard who is the driving force behind the films subplot, to find and avenge his Father's murderer, the "six-fingered man" who turns out to be the Prince's friend and co-conspirator, Count Rugen (Christopher Guest). Billy Crystal is at his lovable self playing Miracle Max, a retired old wizard who lost all confidence after "The King's stinking son" fired him.  As the films lead, Carey Elwes finds harmony in mixing action and comedy, dashing and satire, heroism and folly. His courage and bravado compliment his more whimsical and satirical dialogue, which is delivered straight-man style. In fact, what makes this film so funny, is how straight the actors play their characters, despite the fact they are all completely off-the-wall. 


Much to the chagrin of the Grandson, there is kissing in this book. But by the end, even he doesn't mind.






SEE THE TRAILER: The Princess Bride