Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

The Princess Bride (1987)

Director: Rob Reiner

Average user rating
9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A fairytale as told to a bedridden boy: the willowy Buttercup (Wright), destined as consort to the wicked Prince Humperdinck (Sarandon), is abducted and whisked through a series of life-threatening exploits and miscast comic cameos. The story, adapted from William Goldman's book, is partly a traditional fantasy, with a damsel in distress, dashing lover, evil villains, and lotsa monsters and swordfights, but also a knowing commentary on the conventions of all such tales. The tone falls disconcertingly between straight action adventure and anachronistic Jewish spoof; the leads are vacuous; the absurdities sometimes forced and obvious. Only Guest's sadistic Count Rugen and Patinkin's vengeful Spanish swordsman inject any real enthusiasm into the proceedings; but the film does exude a certain innocent, unassertive charm, and kids will probably love it.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend
Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

User reviews of this film

  • me said...
    Posted on Jul 30 2009 01:01 "the absurdities sometimes forced and obvious"
    It's a f******* fairy tale FFS!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Pippa said...
    Posted on Apr 16 2008 18:42 It's true, Princess Bride is slapstick, silly and bright, but it's also witty, dark and wonderful. The characters could never be called vacuous. It's entirely sweet and funny, but watchable, even despite it's maudlin view on love.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Oli said...
    Posted on Jan 29 2008 10:44 Are you kidding? The Princess Bride is funny, romantic, and exciting - how can you NOT like it?
    Report as inappropriate
  • mary said...
    Posted on Dec 14 2007 08:36 thank you for not giving in and loving the princess bride. The hype alone is enough to make me want to vomit.
    Report as inappropriate
  • lachme said...
    Posted on Nov 29 2007 00:21 how can you NOT love the princess bride? this reviewer makes the grinch sound like pollyanna.
    Report as inappropriate
  • mister murphy said...
    Posted on Nov 20 2007 11:36 you some lange boy that film was savage
    Report as inappropriate
  • Jaske said...
    Posted on Oct 29 2007 12:11 you so jack, that movie was quite possibly the greatest movie ever made about a princess, pirate, spainiard, and rous'
    Report as inappropriate
  • Kathy said...
    Posted on Oct 19 2007 22:15 This movie is pretty much amazing!!!!! VERY, VERY passionate!!!!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Nikki said...
    Posted on Jun 27 2007 15:22 I laughed so hard I almost pirates of penzance myself!
    Report as inappropriate
9 comments

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Hippies who work for The Man

Hippies who work for The Man

To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within

Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies

Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies

Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe

Grant Heslov: interview

Grant Heslov: interview

Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Michael Jackson's This Is It: review

Michael Jackson's This Is It: review

Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas

Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace

Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace

From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'

Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'

Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her

How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life

How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life

Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations