Time to review a cult classic in every sense of the word in that it has quotable lines, memorable characters, and when you catch it on cable TV you will be able to enjoyably finish watching the rest no matter which scene you begin with. This movie of course is The Princess Bride and I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t consider it a favorite. The story has everything including Peter Falk reading to a young Fred Savage.
So, why does this very light yet enjoyable movie have such a cult following? Well, for me, I think it’s the Three Stooges angle that pervades through the film. The slapstick in the film might not be as fierce as a Three Stooges short I do believe the dynamic of three men with their separate roles to play is quite eternal.
We start with the original trio of a Sicilian boss named Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), a Greenlandic giant named Fezzik (André the Giant), and a Spanish master fencer named Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). Of course they are Moe, Curly, and Larry in respective order which shows in the dialogue between all the characters and how they interact physically. A great example of this is how Vizzini keeps using the term inconceivable wrong and Inigo inadvertently questioning Vizzini’s intelligence by stating that he may be using the word incorrectly which is quite similar to Moe and Larry.
Of course Fezzik is a milder mannered Curly, a Shemp if you will. He is played as a gentle giant, which is clever casting by picking André the Giant and steals a page from James Cameron’s book when he casted Arnold Schwarzenegger as a lifeless robot in The Terminator, and is easily cowed by diminutive Wallace Shawn. Whenever Vizzini hurls insults at Fezzik I’m reminded of Moe cursing Curly or Shemp for not thinking calculatingly enough.
Once our hero Westley (Carry Elwes) survives the trials of the Three Stooges he eventually rescues the girl Buttercup, played by Robin Wright before the Penn. Now, at this time you think it’s going to be just Westley versus the evil Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon) until our hero gets captured and tortured to death. There is nothing new about a 2nd act defeat followed by a 3rd rally and finish but bringing back Fezzik and Inigo makes this movie standout.
Two of the remaining Three Stooges reunite with a more ambivalent Moe which of course is Westley. Having Westley rely on Fezzik and Inigo makes Curly/Shemp and Larry finally get their show time and help get the girl and some revenge. This trio is more fun to watch since they are working together out of personal interest instead of fear of a Sicilian mobster.
Larry/Inigo gets his revenge and Westley/Moe gets the girl and defeats the evil prince. Of course, the only one not really served personally is Fezzik/Curly/Shemp but he’s just there for comic relief. Again, some uncanny casting of a popular wrestler as a lone brute squad.
Not much else to say about this incredibly enjoyable movie except that it’s a more enjoyable and less dark version of NeverEndingStory and of course made Mel Brooks cast Carry Elwes in Robin Hood: Men In Tights. You know a movie is great when is rights wrongs and makes future movies that much better.