Book Review: As You Wish by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

This heartfelt memoir of the creation of the film version of The Princess Bride is told mostly from the perspective of the main star, Cary Elwes. He played Westley, a farm boy in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Buttercup (played by Robin Wright). Westley is kidnapped by a pirate and eventually returns to rescue his love from an evil prince who conspires to use her as an excuse for war. The movie had a disappointing performance at the box office when it was released in 1987. It became a cult hit on VHS and is loved by everyone who has ever had the good fortune to see it. Elwes describes how he was cast as an unknown for a book he'd loved since childhood. He describes everything up to the celebratory 25th anniversary screening in New York City.

The book follows the tone of the movie. It is sincere and heartwarming. Elwes goes through a lot of growing pains as an actor (some literally as he describes various accidents on set). The rest of the cast and crew were as committed as he was to making a fine product, so they worked together as a family. They achieved some cinematic magic, though they weren't sure of it at the time. The other actors contribute little snippets, as does director Rob Reiner, author William Goldman, and producer Andy Scheinman. The reader is probably best served by seeing the movie first, not because of spoilers but to drink in the richness of their experiences. Reading the book certainly made me watch the movie again.

Highly recommended.