Stephanie and I watched this movie for the first time with our kids a little bit ago, and two things struck me. First (and this was not totally unexpected) was how much they laughed. Sometimes when you have watched and loved a movie for so long due to its adult wit, you can forget how many moments of simpler comedy are in a movie. Second, it really surprised me how much the story kept their interest. Herein lies, to me, the same genius in this movie that lies in many great movies.
The genius we find here is the ability of the film maker(s) to create something that is at once sophisticated and simple. The story of this movie is basic enough that any child can follow it. However, the dialogue and the humor are complex enough that we can all find ourselves returning to the film and gaining new laughs and appreciating the wittiness of the dialogue. I first saw this movie when it came out in the theater when I was 12, but I mainly got to know it through countless viewings on video. The fact that my High School church youth group nearly always watched this movie at camp gatherings further shows this movie's appeal. In my youth group (which was hundreds of students strong), it was always tricky to find a movie that is edgy and innocent. This movie fit the bill, and I have very clear memories of watching it at Camp Surf in San Diego on the beach near the US/Mexican border.
The movie is a story within a story. A young boy (Fred Savage) is sick, and his grandfather (the recently departed Peter Falk) comes to his house to read him a story while he is laid up. The story he reads to his grandson ends up being the principal plot of the movie, as we follow the adventures of Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright) as they attempt to find a way to live happily ever after. They encounter various obstacles as well as several funny characters along their way. They are pursued by Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon), a trite, smarmy royal who makes it his business to start unnecessary wars and make Buttercup miserable.
The story itself is nothing extraordinary. What makes the movie special is the characters and the dialogue between them. The best example I can think of is the sword fight between Westley and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin, who also happens to have the most famous piece of dialogue from the movie). This is a standard, swashbuckling kind of scene that is made special by countless winks in the dialogue. Example: "Montoya: Why do you wear that mask-were you burned with acid or something? Westley: "No, they're just terribly comfortable...I think someday everyone will wear them." There are many other memorable lines, many of which can make one feel as though they are in an exclusive club if others recognize the dialogue in social interaction. But, in spite of all the sassy dialogue, the movie still works because of its heart. It is able to find a giant with a great heart (Andre the Giant), and a story that really is sentimental. It seems that this movie has achieved a sort of classic status. It deserves it. It is something special, and I think the reason for that is how universal its appeal really is.
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