No film understood that better than the less modern, but infinitely savvier,The Princess Bride.
Its a love letter from outsiders searching for more than fanboy approval.
However, Goldmans compromised conceit of The Princess Bride became something more when he started writing it for himself.
However, the real cleverness of Goldmans novel came from deconstructing this heritage while simultaneously paying it homage.
It also does so with plenty of chuckles.
He could best honor childhood daydreams by giving in to them with one foot firmly removed from their world.
It was where that other foot landed that allowedThe Princess Bridefilm to stand apart.
It was like the writer was inside my head, Reiner would later describe onThe Princess Bridecommentary.
Cut to the mid-1980s, after Rob Reiner proved his funny bone withThis is Spinal Tap(1984).
But there was no hiding Billy Crystal and Carol Kanes contemporary bickering as hilarious representations of magicians.
Typically, the sorcerer is the catalyst of earnest fantasy.
Where would Arthur be without Merlin?
And what would become of the Grimms Cinderella without a fairy godmother?
It is in this vein that my favorite character of the film hails: Wallace Shawns Vizzini.
Yet, none of this is attempted in the hope of making an outright laugher.
Rather Mandy Patinkin describedThe Princess Brideeffect best during a 2006 interview.
I remember Rob at the first lunch that we had.
Thats how I want it to happen.
So, he collected a bunch of people who would play cards that way.
And so they did.
Or whatever Peter Cook was affecting as that oh-so-impressive clergyman.
These were morality tales with an unapologetic frivolity about their mythology or setting.
Its whimsy is a blessing, not distraction.
High fantasy is a wonderful thing, butThe Princess Bridesucceeds by shrugging at the concepts of world-building or verisimilitude.
This is not a criticism of modern fantasy.
The urge to surrender that is akin to missing the Fire Swamp for the trees.
