The Princess Bride (1987) Film Review

If you have never seen this film, well, that sucks for you. Because I think that if you come to this film too late in life, you just may not get it. See, it is daggy as anything, with cheesy special effects, and over-the-top, magnificently melodramatic acting. And it is totally wonderful.

Story? Well, Buttercup (Robin Wright) is a girl who is love with a farmboy, Westley (Cary Elwes). But when his boat is taken by Dread Pirate Roberts, a pirate known to leave no survivors, Buttercup is bereft. So when evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) chooses her as his bride, she doesn’t care. Love is dead for her. Then she is kidnapped by a mysterious party of three – Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), a man gunning for the revenge over the death of his father, Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) a Sicilian who thinks he can outsmart anyone and Fezzik (the late, great Andre the Giant) who loves to rhyme but is not too smart. And things get exciting!

So wonderful, so fantastic. And then add in a legendary performance by Peter Cook, along with Christopher Guest, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Mel Smith, Billy Crystal… too wonderful.

 

Liar Liar (1997) Film Review

Fletcher Reede(Jim Carrey) is a lawyer who is constantly lying and letting down his son, Max (Justin Cooper). It’s driving his ex-wife Audrey (Maura Tierney) crazy, and sending her into the arms of her new but somewhat boring new boyfriend, Jerry (Cary Elwes). After his father misses his birthday, Max wishes that for just a day, his father couldn’t lie. And it comes true.

I really like the premise, but felt that it was ruined by over-Carrey-ing. I’m a big fan of Jim Carrey, however I am finding that I really cannot be bothered with the real over-the-top stuff. Had the film pulled back a bit, it is entirely possibly it wouldn’t have had the box office success, but I may have enjoyed it more.