The Princess Bride

Yeah, I'm still in shock over the news that broke last night. What a family tragedy all around.

RIP Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner

What a crummy weekend between TWO mass shootings and the circumstances of how Rob & his wife were murdered. Having just watched the Spinal Tap sequel on Friday in Kansas before flying back to Florida (it was selected because the movie was new to HBO Max, wasn’t long, and there was interest in a theatrical viewing before the middling reviews rolled in), I wish the film would have been better-liked by me. That said, that doesn’t diminish the tremendous start to his directing career but I’ll discuss that at the conclusion of the review.

More than one of his films was seen by me as a kid and never again as an adult; that includes The Princess Bride. As tackling North for the first time in 30 years doesn’t seem a fitting tribute (even as a naïve young teen, that movie sadly was a flop), instead I’ll finally discuss a flick so beloved, more than one moment/line has become ingrained in Western pop culture to this day. 

Sorry for the obvious comment, but it actually is inconceivable that I waited so many years to finally view The Princess Bride again. A detailed plot description is not necessary; Peter Falk reads his grandson Fred Savage The Princess Bride (the book) when the latter is sick in bed. Those two offer occasional interjections into the playful sendup of an adventure fairy tale involving Princess Buttercup, a Farm Boy, and a man with a Zorro-esque mask. The movie is still a lot of fun.

What a cast. The heroes are likable while the heels are amusing in their own ways. What a trio Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant were. Of course, as a pro wrestling fan it’s always nice seeing the man born Andre Roussimoff. In the 70’s he was quite mobile for his huge size-unfortunately, by this point and his legendary match with Hulk Hogan in the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III, his body broke down and was rather immobile. Thankfully, movie magic made this not obvious.

I do know the lore of how Reiner’s dad Carl gave him this book, inspiring Rob to adapt the novel when Truffaut, Redford, and Jewison weren’t able to. Thanks to Norman Lear and the support of then-head of 20th Century Fox Barry Diller, the film was made and while not a box office smash, became beloved in later years. The film looked great (not to constantly belabor this point, but especially compared to most modern pictures) and offered scenic views of the English/Irish countryside, along with quality sets. The Mark Knopler score was fitting for the setting; Dire Straits made some great songs, including Money for Nothing… regrettable usage of a homophobic slur aside.

I can’t speak for the tastes of the current generation but the hope is that The Princess Bride is timeless, a tale that can captivate both adults & children even as 2025 concludes. This long-overdue rewatch did brighten my spirit and made me feel better about what appears to be a family tragedy. Without a doubt, in the years away I’ll visit and revisit more of Rob Reiner’s work.