The question “What’s your favorite movie?” has always seemed like a silly one to me–with so many great movies made over the years, how could anyone pick just one? I have dozens (at least) of favorites, as do most people, but even amongst those I most appreciate, there are only a few I can watch over and over again without needing a break from them. One of that small group that’s particularly close to my heart is Princess Bride, the Egyptian’s [site] midnight movie for this weekend, February 16 and 17. Starring Robin Wright (later Robin Wright Penn) and Cary Elwes as the young lovers around whom the story centers and featuring a brilliant cast including such luminaries as Peter Falk, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane and the late Andre the Giant, Princess Bride is a brilliant example of that rare gem: the romantic comedy-adventure that is equally romantic, funny and thrilling.

image via [wiki]

The movie begins with the framing device of a grandfather (Falk) reading a story–the story of the Princess Bride–to his ill grandson, played by an almost unbearably adorable young Fred Savage. The story within the story is about a young woman named Buttercup (Wright) who is first conned into becoming engaged to the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon, in what might be the best performance of his entire career) and then kidnapped first by a group of thugs (Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant) and then by the ominous Dread Pirate Roberts who seems to know an awful lot about Buttercup’s deceased one true love Westley.

All of the actors give excellent performances. Billy Crystal and Carol Kane appear in but a single scene but play their parts so well that their scene is many people’s favorite in the film. Elwes and Wright have a phenomenal chemistry together that makes you care very deeply about the fate of their romance. The subplot relating to the dream of Mandy Patinkin’s character to avenge the murder of his father (”Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”) enhances the plot and the cuts to Falk and Savage reacting to the story don’t detract like these things so often do but instead serve wonderfully to give the viewer a chance to feel even more engaged in the tale being told. All in all, this is an excellent movie which I recommend to anyone who loves a good story.

Related posts:

1. Midnight at the Egyptian
2. Midnight at the Egyptian
3. Midnight Movie 01/06-07: Bride of Frankenstein
4. Midnight at the Egyptian
5. Midnight at the Egyptian: Harold and Maude