I've been spacing these posts a little too far apart, and letting them pile up. So, I'm devoting a full week to new installments of my "Great Directors" series. Enjoy.
It's rare in this day and age that directors excel in so many different genres. Rob Reiner, however, managed to make classic films in the spoof, coming-of-age, horror, romantic comedy, courtroom drama, and fantasy adventure genres - not just good films, but some of the best ever made. Your favorite Rob Reiner film depends on what kind of a movie fan you are. As I'm a fantasy fan at heart, naturally my favorite is "The Princess Bride," one of the undisputed classics of the 1980s.
Everyone knows this film. Everyone quotes this film. Everyone has an impression of Andre the Giant, or Wallace Shawn, or Mandy Patinkin to pull out for special occasions. The William Goldman novel and script are legendary. As a film nerd, I must point out that this is a spoof on the swashbucklers of the 1930s and 1940s. However, for my generation, who mostly didn't have much exposure to these old adventure movies, "The Princess Bride" was often taken at face value. And its genius has always been that it works anyway, in spite of all the meta humor and the framing device with the sarcastic young Fred Savage rolling his eyes at Peter Falk's knowing grandfather. Every tropey, sappy, sentimental, silly, over-familiar beat of the fairy tale works, and works beautifully.
"The Princess Bride" is one of those films that I only saw in bits and pieces during my childhood, and occasionally mixed up with other fantasy movies like "The Never-Ending Story." I finally watched the whole thing in one sitting after I read Goldman's novel as a teenager. That's when I finally got the humor, and everything else snapped into place. "The Princess Bride" has less in common with the old Errol Flynn movies than it does with other '70s and '80s movie spoofs like "Young Frankenstein" and Reiner's "This is Spinal Tap." The laughs are gentler and more kid-friendly, but the absurdity and the specificity of the caricatures are aimed at more discerning grown ups.
The universality of the film never fails to amaze me. For some, the entry point is Inigo Montoya, the stirring, romanticized ideal of a man of unimpeachable honor on a quest for vengeance. For some it's Buttercup and Westly overcoming the endless hurdles to their love. For some it's the comic bumblings and heartwarming friendship of Fezzik and Inigo and Westly, when they join forces against the loathsome Humperdinck. For me, it was Fred Savage, because I was once one of those know-it-all brats who thought they were too smart to enjoy an earnestly told story, and was delighted to discover otherwise. These days, I find myself sympathizing a lot more with his patient grandfather, for obvious reasons.
Trying to figure out why the film works so well feels like an exercise in futility. The filmmaking is geared toward showcasing the comedy and the performances, and takes most of its visual inspiration from the films that it's paying homage to. My guess is that the film's magic has a lot to do with its tone - the perfect balance between the satirical, cynical side of the story, and the nostalgic, impossible joy of the Cliffs of Insanity, the fire swamp, Miracle Max's miracles, and the promise of True Love. And there's such a wonderful rapport that Reiner has with his actors, letting everybody do their best work and leave a real impression on the film. Even parts as small as the booing lady and the ditzy old king have their chance to shine.
"The Princess Bride" is one of the best examples of a film that found its audience over time. It went from a modest box office success to a cult film to a bona fide timeless classic that seems to be constantly being rereleased in theaters and on home media. It's even responsible for one of the only good things to have come out of Quibi: "Home Movie: The Princess Bride," an impromptu COVID-era remake orchestrated by Jason Reitman and a passel of homebound celebrities - including Rob and Carl Reiner.
What I've Seen - Rob Reiner
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Stand by Me (1986)
The Princess Bride (1987)
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Misery (1990)
A Few Good Men (1992)
North (1994)
The American President (1995)
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
The Bucket List (2007)
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