Rob Reiner was a creator who had the finger on the pulse of what audiences enjoyed. He was a versatile director, not confined by any one genre in particular. His career had many hits and, more importantly, many classics that have stood the test of time. The Princess Bride remains one of his best, uniting the talent and chemistry of Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the iconic Wesley and Princess Buttercup. The fantastical story follows lovers who are tragically separated after finding each other. When Wesley’s (Elwes) ship is attacked by pirates, Buttercup (Wright) vows never to love again. Years pass, and she agrees to marry the vile Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) only for the love of her life to return. Full of romance, revenge, and ROUS’s, the film was a crossover hit.

The Princess Bride became an instant classic and a comfort film for many. That is why it was the natural choice during the lockdown of the pandemic to get people to feel again. Celebrities, including – but not limited to – Chris Pine, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons, Pedro Pascal, and Reiner himself, filmed themselves at home acting out different scenes of The Princess Bride. Entitled The Princess Bride: Home Movie, the film was spliced together to tell the entire story, and all proceeds went to World Central Kitchen. Hilarious and heartwarming, this pop culture touchstone was a source of comfort for many at a time they needed it the most.

‘The Princess Bride: Home Movie’ Embraced Its DIY Tone

In 2020, everyone needed a good laugh, and the stars of Hollywood were ready to oblige. Lockdown made it impossible for anyone to interact in person, so many celebrities filmed themselves at home acting out different scenes from The Princess Bride. This wasn’t meant to recreate a classic but revisit a story that everyone knows and retell it for the enjoyment of all. The production embraced the idea of a home movie, as costuming and set decoration all came from what the actors had on hand.

The only actors who interacted with each other were family members or those who were quarantined together. This led to many creative solutions that made the home movie even more enjoyable than the original in various ways. Scenes like Buttercup in eel-infested waters were filmed with Mackenzie Davis in her own pool at home. Wigs and makeshift costumes were used, made even more hilarious as characters came back, played by different actors. Big action sequences like those on horseback were shown via LEGOS. The final production all came together in a way that was not seamless but added to its charm. The hodgepodge of scenes thrown together captured what made the original so heartfelt, and it was wholesome fun that everyone could watch on YouTube.

‘The Princess Bride’ Never Needed the Frills

There is a reason why Rob Reiner’s quotable The Princess Bride captured the hearts and minds of audiences, and it wasn’t the huge budget. While there were beautiful set pieces and fight choreography, the story was the main draw of the film. It was a romance and fantasy movie that refused to become jaded by real life. Wesley believed in the power of true love and the fact that it would not be beaten even by death. He triumphed over death twice to return to his love, no matter how terrible the odds were.

The tale of revenge in The Princess Bride was just as powerful. Íñigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) had a lifelong vendetta against the six-fingered man who had killed his father. Montoya gets his revenge in a moment of triumph so he can honor his late father. The Princess Bride adheres to no specific genre but has something for everyone, which is also why Home Movie was such a delight. It didn’t need the large budget of a Reiner film but the magic of a good story. The heart of The Princess Bride remained in a homemade version that didn’t try to steer away from the makeshift aesthetics. Both are now a hallmark of pop culture and a representation of Reiner’s great legacy.