The Princess Bride somehow spoofs the conventions of fantasy romance without teetering into irony. It’s an affectionate send-up that’s miles away from the sort of mockery that most lampooning seems to require these days. William Goldman adapted the screenplay from his own book, while director Rob Reiner guided the punch lines and an exquisite cast: Wallace Shawn as a criminal mastermind (in his own mind); Mandy Patinkin as a vengeful swashbuckler (he’s doing Antonio Banderas before there was an Antonio Banderas); Andre the Giant (being giant); Cary Elwes as the farm boy/hero (offering a delightful homage to Douglas Fairbanks); and Robin Wright as the earnest title heroine (and, truth be told, a bit of a wuss). Everyone on screen is self-aware yet never, for a moment, self-loathing. No wonder the movie has become beloved by successive generations of smart fantasy nerds.
