The Princess Bride (1987)

Fantasy comedy romance directed by Rob Reiner presented as a fairytale story within a story. A grandfather (Peter Falk) reads a book to his grandson (Fred Savage), and we see those events playing out as the film’s main narrative. 

It’s an enjoyably silly saga about an evil prince (Chris Sarandon), who wants to marry a princess named Buttercup (Robin Wright). But Buttercup is in love with farm-boy Westley (Cary Elwes) a.k.a. Dread Pirate Roberts. 

The action plays out in castles, forests, a swamp and a pit. It’s deliberately slightly ridiculous, and yet it’s played straight – which makes it funnier. It’s both a good-natured action romp and an expert parody of that sort of thing. 

Christopher Guest is impressively “evil” as Count Tyrone Rugen, and there are also roles for Mandy Patinkin, Peter Cook, Mel Smith and Billy Crystal.