With this weekend being a long weekend for most people, I think it’s high time we discuss a film that everyone in the family can sit down and watch together. Are you looking for something with action, romance, and comedy? Inconceivable you might think, but like a humble farm boy once said, as you wish.
This week, Rob Reiner’s 1987 fantasy-comedy The Princess Bride is our VHS Classic.
Mixing traditional fantasy storytelling with modern humor, The Princess Bride tells the story of Buttercup, her beloved Wesley, and their journey to being reunited by their undying love for each other. When Wesley’s merchant ship is attacked by The Dread Pirate Roberts and he is believed dead, Buttercup agrees to marry a snobbish Prince. Before the wedding, three bandits kidnap Buttercup and a mysterious masked man tracks them down to save her.
There are few movies out there that become instantaneously beloved by an audience the way The Princess Bride does. It’s lead by an all star cast and a fairy tale story that’s easy to love, but what really makes this movie stand out is the endlessly quotable script from William Goldman. Goldman, who wrote the book the film is based on, seamlessly weaves jokes, action, and romance together in a way that other screenwriters should be forever envious of.
Now let’s be honest here, I should not have to sell you on this movie. And if you know someone who has not seen this film, you should shout “Inconceivable!” before sitting them down and showing them what they have been missing. In fact, you should have them just watch Billy Crystal’s and Carol Kane’s scene stealing performances as Miracle Max and Valerie as proof that The Princess Bride is one of the all time great comedies.
I could go on all day about the elegant fencing choreography, the adorable Grandfather reading to his Grandson framing device, and fantastic revenge driven subplot, but instead I am just going to insist that you take a few hours this weekend and enjoy arguably the most widely appealing movie ever made.
You should have this on VHS, DVD, Blu Ray, HD DVD, BetaMax, Laserdisc, 70mm print, Digital Streaming, 4K, and a version you taped one afternoon off the television. But if you don’t, The Princess Bride is available for rent from Amazon for $3.99 and is available streaming with a Cinemax subscription.
