The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride (1987)
Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Chris Sarandon, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest
Memorable Line: "Inconceivable!"

"The Princess Bride" is a modern, quirky take on the fairy tale that delivers in almost every way. The combination of Reiner's direction and William Goldman's script make this one of those films that can be enjoyed across all generations.

The framing device for the movie is a tale told by a grandfather to a grandson and starts off in a small village in some mid-evil setting where a fair young maiden named Buttercup slowly falls in love with the farm boy Wesley. But then fates intervene and Wesley is supposedly killed by pirates, Buttercup is coerced into marrying the king and then is kidnapped by a mad evil genius, a master swordsman, and a giant. She is then rescued from her kidnappers by none other than the Dread Pirate Roberts who is the same pirate that killed her Wesley.

This is only the beginnings of the adventure that leads to fantastic sword fights, long awaited revenge and even true love.

Reiner keeps his tongue in his cheek with his direction and the cast play the jokes masterfully with a straight face. Elwes shines as Wesley and Wright is spunky and radiant as butter cup. Wallace Shawn is frightfully funny as the arrogant mad genius, Patinkin smolders as the sword master who finds his long sought revenge and Andre the Giant has a sweet turn as the gentle giant. Chris Sarandon is oozes with pomposity as the king with the evil master plan. Several other actors get great guest shots with the funniest duo being the pairing of Billy Crystal and Carol Kane as a husband and wife sorcery and sorceress.

If you need a film for family fun night, look no further than "The Princess Bride."