The Princess Bride Movie Review

The Princess Bride (1987)

Rent The Princess Bride on Amazon Video / Buy the book
Written by: William Goldman (screenplay by), William Goldman (based upon his book)
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk
Rated: PG
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Plot
While home sick in bed, a young boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy turned pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies, and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.

Verdict
It's a fun story that plays to imagination and subverting expectations. Children will like pirates, princesses, and sword duels while adults will appreciate sharp dialog and driven characters. It's the type of movie that only gets better the more you watch it.
Watch it.

Review
A story book-ended by a grandfather reading the very story to his grandson. While the grandson is initially dismissive of a story that involves kissing, this proves that maybe everyone does like a tale of romance.

Robin Wright plays Princess Buttercup.

Part of what makes this fun for all ages is the writing. The dialog is sharp, especially when Dread Pirate Roberts outwits a kidnapper into drinking poisoned wine. It's a drawn out exchange as the kidnapper reasons which of the two cups would be poisoned before he drinks. So much of this movie is smartly setting up the usual trope in this type of movie and then subverting it.

Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant play Vizzini, Inigo Montoya, Fezzik.

The main characters have clear goals and a difficult path to achieve those goals. Inigo Montoya has his famous catchphrase, but what makes him such a great side character is his clear goal of revenge. His own story is playing out in this movie, and in so many movies side characters are there only to assist the main character. Montoya is the hero of his own story which is part of the larger story.

Fred Savage and Peter Falk play grandson and grandfather.

While most movies would end with the big duel, this movie subverts the expectation. That's why this movie plays for all ages. If it fell into the standard tropes it would be boring. While it's rated PG, I imagine it might be PG-13 if released today.