The Princess Bride

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: September 25, 1987

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

78	METASCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

100

David Sterritt

Cary Elwes is marvelously funny as the hero. [25 Sept 1987]

100

Julie Salamon

The movie has its own genuine charm and one hilarious high: Billy Crystal & Carol Kane are simply wonderful. [24 Sept 1987, p.24(E)]

100

Richard Corliss

As you watch this enchanting fantasy, feel free to be thrilled or to giggle, as you wish. This time, Happily Ever After lasts 98 minutes. [21 Sept 1987]

New Times (L.A.)Luke Y. Thompson

Though not as visually impressive as comparable Terry Gilliam fare such as Jabberwocky, the verbal wit is fast and abundant (abetted with cameos by Billy Crystal, Peter Cook and Mel Smith), and you'd better believe the midnight movie crowd will remember almost all of it. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

It's Patinkin who scores a special triumph. In his role there's a poignant strain of weariness beneath the leaping bravado, a pain under the braggadocio. [25 Sept 1987]

Brad Laidman

An effective comedy, an interesting bedtime tale, and one of the greatest date rentals of all time. Read full review

Rita Kempley

As a good fairy tale should, The Princess Bride teaches but never preaches. It's a lively, fun-loving, but nevertheless epic look at the nature of true love. Read full review

Roger Ebert

It is filled with good-hearted fun, with performances by actors who seem to be smacking their lips and by a certain true innocence that survives all of Reiner's satire. Read full review

Desson Thomson

A percolating comedy. The laughs may not tear your belly up, but they're constant and they dovetail with the story. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Not even the crude ethnic humor--Billy Crystal's Mel Brooks-ish Miracle Max--pricks the dream bubble, and the spirited cast has a field day. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Mr. Reiner seems to understand exactly what Mr. Goldman loves about stories of this kind, and he conveys it with clarity and affection. Read full review

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

A hilarious mixture of Errol Flynn swashbuckler and Monty Python send-up...When it comes to pleasing both kids and adults, you can't do much better. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The Princess Bride wants to be sweet and warm, but it doesn't want to take the chance of seeming uncool -- and that is an attitude far, far removed from innocence. [9 Oct 1987]

Ty Burr

Reiner's penchant for hip little riffs -- Billy Crystal as a yiddish wizard, etc. -- dilutes primal power in favor of genial fun. Read full review

Mike Clark

Crystal is such a panic - and normally uptight Patinkin is so attractively relaxed as a Spanish swordsman - that Bride's charms just can't be ignored. [25 Sept 1987]

Marjorie Baumgarten

Reiner abandons his previous movie's sense of farce and satire for much broader and more innocuous comedy. Read full review

Jay Scott

Rob Reiner's not up to it: when the movie is meant to be romantic, the tone is frequently mushy and sexless, and when it's meant to be anachronistic and satiric, it's vaudeville-vulgar. Read full review

Peter Stack

Kinda cute, occasionally amusing and very, very slow... I just wish [it] had more momentum, more oomph. [9 Oct 1987]

Staff (Not Credited)

It also doesn't help that Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the loving couple are nearly comatose and inspire little passion from each other, or the audience. Read full review

Pauline Kael

The movie is ungainly – you can almost see the chalk marks it's not hitting. But it has a loose, likable shabbiness. [19 Oct 1987, p.110]