The holidays are behind us, and the new year is here; but in the dregs of January, there’s still a chance to look back and pay tribute to the people we lost in 2025. The list would be too long (and too depressing) to put out in full on this blog, but one name has been ringing in my head of late: Rob Reiner, the famed actor and director. Reiner and his wife were killed in December, and as awful as their deaths were, Reiner’s legacy lives on.
Even if you don’t know the name, it’s likely you’d recognize the face, or have seen some of his output. The son of comedy genius Carl Reiner, Rob began his career as an actor, most notably playing Archie Bunker’s “meathead” son-in-law, Michael. While Reiner would continue to act off and on for the rest of his life, his biggest impact on popular culture was as a movie director. His filmography reflects his public image: well-made, optimistic, and often very, very funny.
If you haven’t seen This Is Spinal Tap before, you are in for a treat. Reiner’s first outing as a director has him appearing on screen as a documentarian following the misadventures of Spinal Tap, the world’s loudest rock band. If you’ve heard the term “mockumentary” before (it refers to a comedy that uses the framing devices of a documentary to tell a fictional, funny story; think The Office), this movie more or less invented it, featuring hall of fame performances from Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer as the titular, largely clueless, trio.
Looking for something a little sweeter? It’s hard to go wrong with The Princess Bride, a classic that’s become a generational touchstone for millions. Like so much of Reiner’s best work, it’s hard to say anything new about the movie; a love story between a farm boy and farmer’s daughter that’s also a swashbuckling adventure that’s also a political thriller that’s also hilarious and kind. Odds are, even if you haven’t seen this one, you’ve heard it referenced, and there are few movies more guaranteed to brighten your day.
Our collection has both these titles, and several more Reiner films–in addition, I’d also recommend When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, and A Few Good Men. (As a Stephen King fan, I respect Reiner’s adaptation of Misery but don’t really enjoy it, despite an outstanding performance from Kathy Bates.) If you’d like to get a sense of Reiner as an actor, you can also try Wolf Of Wall Street, in which he plays Leonardo DiCaprio’s increasingly baffled father. It’s a fine, nuanced supporting turn from a good man who will very much be missed.
