Rob Reiner has always been careful to avoid typecasting as a director, so following the warm nostalgia of Stand by Me he opted for this curious but ultimately charming children's fable. The film opens with Peter Falk reading the story to The Wonder Years's Fred Savage, and this ironic distancing continues throughout the movie. Although the requisite monsters, giants and swordfights are present and correct for the children, Reiner also ensures there are plenty of quiet chuckles for adults, largely thanks to the eclectic cast, which includes Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, This Is Spinal Tap's Christopher Guest, Mel Smith and Peter Cook. An unexpected delight for all the family.

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.