How Rob Reiner’s Films Became My Childhood Soundtrack

Celebrated writer, actor, and director Rob Reiner died over the weekend. The circumstances surrounding his death and those of his wife are horrible. Instead of dwelling on that, I'm looking back at some of the films that Reiner had a hand in creating that meant so much to me. Films like 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'A Few Good Men'. But two of Rob Reiner's movies from the 1980s remain among my favorites to this day. If you're of a certain age, I think you'll agree.

Stand by Me - 1986

Sometimes we hear the term 'coming-of-age' movie tossed around. But there might not be a better example of it than Reiner's movie Stand By Me, starring the likes of River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell. The film was adapted from a Stephen King novella called 'The Body'. Four boys on a cross-country journey, sharing adventures, and also sharing teenage pain and angst.

It is a movie that gets better the older you get, looking back at those times in your life when your friends were everything and summer lasted forever. The film has a stellar 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Princess Bride - 1987

The very next year, Reiner would direct a comedy, fairy tale movie that would be loved by generations of moviegoers, The Princess Bride. The movie features a stacked cast of actors, including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Andre the Giant, Mandy Patinkin, and Wallace Shawn. The story is told as a grandfather, played by Peter Falk, reads the story to his sick grandson, Fred Savage. There is adventure, romance, and hilarious quotes that stay with me to this day. To not love this movie is "Inconceivable"!

The Princess Bride has an amazing 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I can't help but stop and watch every time it is on TV.

These two movies were part of my childhood, and remain two of my favorite movies to this day. The legendary work of Rob Reiner will be loved and remembered by countless movie fans, including myself.