The Princess Bride
almost look like twins, they are so generically
pretty. The story bubbles along intercut with
Starring: Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy
scenes of a young grandson, sick in bed. being
Patinkin
force-fed “ The Princess Bride” storybook by
Directed by: Rob Reiner
his old granddad, played by Peter Falk. At first
Screenplay by: William Goldman
the boy is too sophisticated for the event, and
would much rather be watching television. But
story just throbbing to be turned to film,
as granddad keeps sushing the kid. and aggres­
“ The Princess Bride” entertains in
sively moving along with the narration, the boy
sweeping and good-humored manner. There’s gets drawn into the proceedings.
enough action in it for the kids, plenty of
As acted out by a well-selected cast, all obvi­
sarcastic humor for the young adults, and it’s
ously having a grand time, the plot is both a
got enough content for the grandparents, too.
sendup of and gives reverential homage to old-
Anybody who has any sense of fun left at all will
fashioned fairy tales, and keeps the viewer, of
find something to enjoy in this rambunctious
any age, on the hook. Jokes scatter everywhere.
tale.
Running gags leap and pirouette. Talented
performers fill a dozen or so cameo parts.
The hero and heroine are both beautiful; they
A
Mandy Patinkin does a great Spaniard. Inigo
Montoya, who has spent most of his life study­
ing swordsmanship and looking for a man with
six fingers on his left hand. The six-fingered
man killed his father when Montoya was a boy
of ten, and the Spaniard still seeks revenge.
Patinkin and his opponents spent months re­
hearsing the swordfighting. The scenes were
filmed last, so the actors could have maximum
training. The fights look real, and it really is the
actors flailing away, not stunt doubles. Wherein
lies my lone little criticism — 1 would have
liked another swordfight or two. However, this
is just me being excessive again.
Andre the giant is big and believable as the
large, good-hearted torpedo Wallace Shawn is
oily and scurillous. Chris Sarandon as the
dastardly prince is morally reprehensible and
loving it. Billy Crystal and Carol Kane are
hilarious as the sorcerer and his shrewish wife
who argue over whether to bring the young hero
back from almost death or not.
Rob Reiner has been getting good reviews
from everybody and high marks from movie­
goers, as well. His “ This Is Spinal Tap” and
"Stand By Me” were well received critically
and found substantial audiences. Reiner is
talented at acquiring a good cast and getting
good work out of them But I think his forte,
really, is selecting good stories to start with. He
picks things not discovered by those with less
well-developed imaginations. Most often these
are stories with a broad appeal across age and
class differentiations.
•
Nothing m eans
m ore to a loved
one than the w ords
from your heart.
30 words just $3.00
Y*
YOUR AO HERE:
/
V
Name
Address
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M ail to:
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ju s t out
Just Out •
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27 •
January 1988
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'i m n I..I •
• uA) w .iv