Review of The Princess Bride (1987) by Simeon T — 15 Dec 2015

The Princess Bride is one of those movies that, within a certain cultural milieu, one just isn't allowed to have a problem with. Actually, I can't think of another movie that is sacrosanct as this one.

I will be the blasphemer here. Don't get me wrong, there are some terrific elements, most famously the cameos. I love Peter Cook's priest, and Billy Crystal is very funny. Among the leads, Robin Wright is, for the most part, very good and sincere, and Mandy Patinkin is as fantastic as his reputation, embodying a level of sincerity and engagement which this film is unworthy of.

Thing is...there has always been something that rubbed me the wrong way about this movie, and I could never put my finger on it. When a friend of mine who has a complete antipathy to fantasy and fairy tale remarked how much he loved it I finally understood: it is a fairy tale for people who look down on fairy tales.

It is part and parcel of the phenomenon of the liberal bourgeoisie needing to be assured with a wink and a nod before allowing themselves to enjoy something in the traditional mold. The only things presented without ironic distance and affect are Matinkin's and Wright's acting and the lovely scenes with Peter Falk (just great here) and his grandson.

Everything else is post-modern to a fault, neatly deconstructed, the pretension of knowing distance a barrier to immersive engagement. In some ways the movie really looks old, with some transparently bad sets and music, but generally it has a fine fairy tale look to it, especially the magical woodlands (Burnham Beeches, as with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves).

But the unreal presentation undermines the positive at every turn. Watching this movie, it is hard to imagine that Cary Elwes is an actual actor. He mugs his way through this movie worse than any other star of a (non-Wes Anderson) film I can think of, and it is this knowing detachment that is most revealing about the movie.

Fairy tales are an eternally excellent literary form, they don't need to be poked at from a distance. But just as conservatives need to be utterly certain they are righteous and patriotic, liberals need to be assured they are smart and knowing.

Even if it ruins a good fairy tale.