The Island Cinephile

The Princess Bride:  Inconceivably Good 

The appeal of fairytale films is usually attributed to common tropes we have seen numerous times. From the title alone, one would expect The Princess Bride to proceed as a classic romantic movie. Expecting such upon my first watch, I was pleasantly surprised to see many subversions of this common story. From the sarcastic, witty farm boy to the poetic giant to the intelligent thief, it is more than one can bargain for. Functioning as a story within a story, the film begins with a sickly young boy whose grandfather offers to read him a story about The Princess Bride. After much apprehension, the boy agrees. In this story, a young girl named Buttercup lives on a farm with her farmhand named Wesley. He is the perfect executor of all of Buttercup’s wishes to which he acquiesces by stating, “As you wish.” They soon fall in love, and Wesley leaves to search for riches so that he could marry Buttercup. A problem arises when his ship is captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts, leaving no survivors. Buttercup is heartbroken. Five years later, she is arranged to be married to Prince Humperdinck. Evidently a shell of the woman prior to the loss of Wesley, Buttercup reels. Days before her wedding, she is kidnapped by Vizzini, Fezzik and Inigo Montoya. These three men, all with differing motives come across a masked savior who bests all of them and saves Buttercup. Unbeknownst to her and the audience, it was the efforts of Wesley that she was found. 

Operating heavily in trope subversion, the outcomes are never what is expected, making the film more comedic and freshly done. Directed by the late Rob Reiner, he always knew how to present a beautifully structured set design. A good example being the child’s bedroom, which helps to immerse the viewer and establish these characters. The Kingdom of Florin has minimal sets but are functional and beautifully shot by Adrian Biddle. The screenplay for the film is based on William Goldman’s book “The Princess Bride” with dialogue that leaves an impression along with a cohesive storyline. With such characters that are so entertaining, it’s hard to believe that magnetism lies within the heart of the story. Like when Wesley mentions to Buttercup “True Love cannot die, it can only be delayed.” This statement struck a chord as one that is memorable and can offer a theologically charged message. The score is owed to Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits who crafted a suitable one for the atmosphere of the film. Cary Elwes is our Wesley, and he is as charming as he is charismatic. Robin Wright embodies the youthful Buttercup, and the pair makes a handsome couple.   

All in all, The Princess Bride is a wonderful film that subverts many common tropes, bringing a fresh perspective to audiences. Ahead of its time, this will remain a classic for posterity. 

Watch trailer for The Princess Bride.