So the second in my series of Cobarbob drinks wine watches movies and writes a review. Part One hereGen Y and Z get a lot of criticism these days, which is in a lot of ways is unfair. They have lots to worry about in this world and we as an older generation can and should be held accountable for leaving them a world as it is.One thing we should definitely be held accountable for is not ensuring all of these young children as they mature into grow up with a love of The Princess Bride. You see when I was your age, television was called books. And this is a special book...er I mean film.Rob Reiner, after the success of Spinal Tap and fresh from Stand By Me, takes a very young Cary Elwes and equally young Robin Wright as the romantic leads in this fantasy adventure.This is a movie with something for EVERYONE. It's super fun, a little cheesy, refreshingly light and appropriate for young and old. Sure Cary Elwes says the word "breast" once. No word of a lie I know a church youth group that strategically places people around the hall to cough over that word, lest young people be corrupted. But come on it's Cary Elwes and he says everything with a charming English accent (used to full impact a few years later as the second-best robin hood1)This is Cary at his very best. Charming, dashing, handsome and British. He's only 25, but he has a commanding presence on screen, supremely confident in the role. He uses his wit and killer lines to lead this movie from start to finish.But this is not just the Cary Elwes show. This is a fine ensemble cast, each stepping up to the plate bringing some of the best performances of their careers. Wallace Shawn is only in the first half of the movie but pretty much ties this movie together at the start. It's criminal how little major work he's done overall.This movie moves at a cracking pace. It's set piece to set piece, very little time to stop and look around. Just as we begin to feel a little overwhelmed by the pace the story we stop for a few minutes to catch our breath at Miracle Maxs' shop. Billy Crystal and Carol Cane show why they are amazing and then off we go for the conclusion of the story.I imagine in any writing textbook the section on "framing devices" will include a picture of Peter Falk sitting on Fred Savages' bed. Is it a little cheesy? Maybe. Is Fred Savage outshone by Columbo himself? Hell yes! Is Peter Falk saying "As you wish" cliched? No, it's beautifully heartwarming and reminds you of your own grandfather. Would it work with any other actor? Probably not.Christopher Guest tries his best not to steal the show the entire time as he restrains himself while sparing with Wesly with some great back and forth.Mandy Patinkin performs all his own fencing and stunts (except for a piss poor somersaults) and ends up probably ultimately remembered eternally as the Spaniard out for revenge Indigo Montoya. There's probably worse characters to be remembered for though.The writing is at times cheesy, Princess Buttercup doesn't have any good lines, they all go to everyone else. This movie is ENDLESSLY quotable, but it never feels like it was written to be full of quotes, just brilliantly lovable.Ultimately, for all its minor faults (ROUSes look like crap but it was the 80s), it's a film that feels like a comfortable pair of PJs. You sit down, quote along, cheer for the good guys, boo at the bad guys and laugh in all the places you're supposed to laugh.Maybe all the Gen Y and Z kids will be cynical of the simpleness of the story (the man in black was Wesley! OMG that mask totally fooled me!). It doesn't have the punchiness of a Fast and Furious. It has no dragons and nudity and killing like Game of Thrones. It lacks the grandness Lord of the Rings.But it's a pure little film. Simple, cute and kind. After more than 30 years, nothing like it has been made. Except for Stardust), which except for Robert De Niro, doesn't have that unique something that makes The Princess Bride SO special. Sorry Neil Gaiman.Finally, it would be remiss of me to say as a Gen X'er, damn it if I don't shed a tear at the end. Hearing the soulful tones of Mark Knopfler2 while Buttercup jumps into the enormous arms of the gorgeous, magnificent Andre the Giant. His beaming face, as he catches Robin, and gently places her on a white horse, is and will forever be a magical moment of film.So if you're too young to have ever watched The Princess Bride, stop your vaping, you're Instagramming, and TikTok-ing and go watch it on the streaming service of choice. Then ring your parents and ask them WHY they never sat you down and made you watch it. If you are a Gen X parent like me and you haven't sat your children down to watch it then you have homework.If you go on a date and mention this movie and aren't immediately met with one of any of these hundreds of quotes, politely put down your knife and fork, calmly fold your napkin, pay for the meal and walk out. This isn't the man or women for you.1 The BEST Robin Hood film is this one)2 That dude from that band your dad loves via /r/movies https://ift.tt/31gIsoC
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