Tribute to Rob Reiner (1947 – 2025) Spinal Tap & The Princess Bride Quotes that Got us Through Life. “Only Thing Left To Do Is Go Through His Clothing and Look for Loose Change.” Reiner’s genius wasn’t just in the jokes or the sword fights. It was in knowing when to let a moment breathe, when to lean into absurdity, and when to let sincerity win. Spinal Tap made “turn it up to eleven” part of the global vocabulary. The Princess Bride made true love and true friendship feel cool again, and with just enough sarcasm to keep it honest.
It was a sad morning, this morning, when we learned of the passing of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer. We aren’t going into details; we aren’t the sort of site that needs to report on the what and why, but we will say the family of the Reiners has posted, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
I cannot think of two movies I have quoted more in my life. This is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride entered my vernacular early on in life. In 1984, I was 9 when Spinal Tap hit theaters, and by 1987, I may have been the perfect age of 12 when The Princess Bride was released. I learned what True Love was from Rob Reiner, and I learned how loud I wanted to listen to music; by turning it up to 11. At 50, the line “I do not think it means what you think it means” plays in my head constantly when talking with people. Almost as bad is how many times I got to say “Hello, Cleveland!” walking to the stage when I used to tour with bands.
We are focusing on two movies that stood out in a career where there was something for everyone. Heck, from 1984 to 1992, Rob Reiner ruled the movie theaters. Putting out 6 movies in a row that all could be considered in the top 100 movies of all time. This is Spinal Tap → Stand by Me → The Princess Bride → When Harry Met Sally… → Misery → A Few Good Men.
Josh Gad said, “He was one of the greatest directors of our time. He was a friend. He was simply a beautiful person. Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were two of the most kind and caring souls you could ever imagine. He cared so much for those who had no voices. This loss is devastating. I cannot express how much this hurts. Love you Rob and Michelle. Thank you for all you gave us.”
We aren’t the only ones paying tribute to a surreal mourning this morning. Celebrities, Directors, and more are all paying tribute in their own way to Mr Reiner. Jared Bush, Director of Zootopia 2, just posted, “Rob Reiner’s movies defined my childhood and continued to inspire me through every stage of my career. As one of my favorite filmmakers, you will see nods to his legacy in films I’ve worked on. He was a true master of character and thoughtful, brilliant storytelling. This is an immense and terrible loss.” In fact, Jared actually made a small tribute to When Harry Met Sally in Zootopia 2!
Side story: Sorry, I know this doesn’t matter to anyone, but a special reader of Fantasy Land News and I love this story! In The Princess Bride, the wedding ceremony between Prince Humperdinck and Buttercup, a priest dressed in full regalia, stands at the pulpit and starts the ceremony, “Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!”
We went to a wedding many years ago, and the officiant had the distinctive Chicago accent. Imagine one of the Blues Brothers being a Catholic Priest marrying a couple! “Do’s Yous?” snaps fingers and points at husband to be “Take (insert name) as Yous Wife”, does same to Wife to Be.
My wife and I are sitting a few pews back, and lost it in a fit of giggling. You know that laugh, when you are trying to hold it in, and if you make eye contact, a huge burst of laughter will come forth? Well, we looked at each other, and both of us knew what the other was thinking, and the laughter came, and it was noticed! We both had tears streaming from our faces, stomachs hurt from the giggling, and the feeling that the eyes of the whole parish were on us! When we could gather ourselves together, we both quoted The Princess Bride at the same time.
So in our sadness, we choose to remember the laughter Rob Reiner left us with, quotes we will remember and keep repeating in our daily lives! When I walk out the door today and head out to the store, I just hope to hear, “Have fun storming the castle.” Rob Reiner may be gone, but we will have these movies and stories to pass along, and in that sense, he will never actually leave our hearts!
Tribute to Rob Reiner (1947 – 2025) Spinal Tap & The Princess Bride Quotes that Got us Through Life
“Well it just so happens that you’re friend here is only mostly dead.” With all dead, well, with all dead there’s usually only one thing you can do, go through his clothes and look for loose change.
“I do not think it means what you think it means”
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
“I’ll call the brute squad!”
“I’m on the brute squad.”
“You ARE the brute squad.”
You ask yourself, How much more black could this be, and the answer is, None… none more black.
It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.
“I’m really influenced by Mozart and Bach, and it’s sort of in between those, really. This piece is called ‘Lick My Love Pump’.”
“You can’t really dust for vomit.”
Nigel Tufnell on why his custom-made guitar amp has a knob that “goes up to 11” “Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Nowhere.”
