Murder by Death - 3/5

This is a dumb screwball comedy that works pretty well, all things considered. The mystery is nonexistant, but constantly changes its own rules and is very much not the point of the story. Instead, the draw of the film is the sheer audacity of the premise and jokes, hoping to keep a quick enough pace that its audience won’t raise an incredulous eyebrow at its nonsense. Its satire of the (relatively) famous detectives is less scathing commentary than it is silly caricature and as such it is an enjoyable, if forgettable, romp.

Closest comparison: It’s like Spaceballs by way of Clue: The Movie.

Setting: Mystery
Plot: Screwball Comedy
Tone: Dry Comedy

The Princess Bride - 5/5

There are plenty of nit pick reasons why this film shouldn’t get a 5, but they all pale in the face of the unparalleled amount of heart this movie exudes at every turn. It repeatedly proves itself with likable characters and quotable dialogue, keeping both the high fantasy adventure and the heartfelt romance in top form. Any low quality special effects inexplicably add to the overall quality of the movie, in part because of the story is cased in narration but also because it maintains a delicate balance between believable danger for the characters and lighthearted fun for the audience. It is easily one of the all time great movies ever made.

Closest comparison: It’s like Monty Python’s and the Holy Grail (1975) by way of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Romance
Tone: Comedy