Essential Director

DVD Features

Essential Director
A look at the works of Rob Reiner.

Like Ron Howard, director Rob Reiner began his association with the entertainment biz as a regular in a 1970’s sitcom. Appearing in All in the Family, Reiner’s character Meathead, like Richie Cunningham, would become a popular mainstay in American homes of the era.

   Reiner made the transition from TV to film in 1984 with his breakout feature This is Spinal Tap, which not only immediately put him on the Hollywood radar but also spearheaded the genre which would become known as “mockumentary” comedy – a concept with which Tap star Christopher Guest would proceed to build an entire career upon (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind et al).

   Also analogous to Ron Howard’s new position behind the camera, Reiner would become one of Hollywood’s most versatile filmmakers, alternating between romantic and teen comedy, horror, fantasy and drama.

   Reiner’s next film following This is Spinal Tap, the quirky teen romance The Sure Thing (1985), helped make John Cusack a star and remains a fond favourite among nostalgic thirty-somethings today.

   Even more popular was The Princess Bride (1987), a whimsical fairy tale based on William Goldman’s book. The film’s imagery, humour and dialogue have since been indelibly etched into the pop culture zeitgeist.

   Having achieved a cult film trifecta with the aforementioned works, Reiner continued to produce box office hits with video store longevity. His Stephen King adaptations, Stand By Me (1986) and Misery (1990), received the seal of approval from fans of the books and the author himself and went on to earn critical raves and an Oscar for Kathy Bates as Misery’s demented antagonist. Reiner would name his production company Castle Rock, after the fictional town created by King.

   Reiner’s reputation as one of Tinseltown’s most bankable filmmakers – and one of comedy’s best dramatic directors – was further consolidated by the success of When Harry Met Sally (1989), which remains at the top of most chick-flick lists, and the gripping legal procedural A Few Good Men (1992), which like The Princess Bride remains eminently quotable, thanks to a towering performance from Jack Nicholson. Altogether now: “You can’t handle the truth!” Reiner recently re-teamed with Nicholson for the tragicomedy The Bucket List (2007).

   Despite an impressive track record at the box office, Reiner has helmed his share of disappointments. The family film North (1994) failed to find an audience, and the domestic drama The Story of Us (1999) and civil rights polemic Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) proved too downbeat for many viewers.

   Reiner continues to make the odd guest appearance in film (Throw Momma from the Train, Primary Colors) and TV, including a South Park episode entitled ‘Butt Out’ which lampooned his strong anti-tobacco stance.
Reiner’s next film, according to pro.imdb.com, will be Whiskey River, a drama about a father’s attempt to stop his soldier son from returning to service in Iraq; currently in development for a 2009 release.