When it comes to defining delightful, amusing, and epic motion-pictures, there is no higher rung on the ladder than The Princess Bride. This terrific feature will warm your heart and tickle your funny bone simultaneously for hours on end. It’s a winsome fairy tale about romance, adventure, and camaraderie. Moreover, it is yet another shining star of a comedy (alongside perhaps the funniest film on celluloid, This is Spinal Tap) from director Rob Reiner.
With a cough and an image of the Bases Loaded Nintendo video game, “the grandson” (Fred Savage) makes his entrance. In need of both getting well and a bedtime story, his grandpa (Peter Falk), begins to read him the tale of The Princess Bride, by S. Morgan Stern. Grandpa informs grandson that this tale includes “fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles.” What more could anyone ask for?
And so, the story of Westley (Cary Elwes) and his love, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright), begins. While serving the young Princess as a boy, Westley professes his love by exclaiming “As you wish,” instead of “I love you.” He knows he is only a peasant, but he yearns for Her Excellency so. Surprisingly, true love triumphs, as Buttercup confesses a mutual attraction. However, when it appears that Westley has perished at sea, Buttercup is forced to become the bride-to-be of the Great Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Meanwhile, Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), Fezzik (Andre the Giant), Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) kidnap the Princess; and, just when it looks like the “Dread Pirate Roberts” is on a killing spree, the band discovers that the “Dread Pirate Roberts” is really Westley and that Westley is really on a quest to win back the Princess. Additionally, the man named Inigo relentlessly searches for the six-fingered fellow (Christopher Guest) who killed his father.
Article comments
1 - Anna Creech
The "circus performers" are kidnappers who take the Princess. I think Fezzik is the only one who may have had a background in the circus. And they don't help Westley at first. It's only after he's killed Vizzini and rescued the Princess, and then killed himself that Inigo and Fezzik revive him to lead their assault on the castle. Just a few minor plot points. Otherwise, nice review.
I first saw The Princess Bride when I was about the grandson's age. I was home sick and my Dad rented a bunch of movies for me. This was one of them. It's been a family favorite ever since.