Superhero Ethics

How did Rob Reiner redefine rom-coms and the role of romance in action adventure movies? In light of the recent tragic death of Michele and Rob Reiner, Mandy Kaplan joins Matthew to talk about his legacy and then examine two defining films from the director: When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and The Princess Bride (1987). One asks whether men and women can be friends; the other explores what “true love” actually means. Together, they reveal Reiner’s unique approach to romantic storytelling and the moral questions embedded in how we connect with others.We explore how When Harry Met Sally... uses Sally’s rigid control and Harry’s defensive cynicism to examine self-deception and emotional availability, while The Princess Bride employs fairy tale structure to investigate devotion, sacrifice, and the nature of romantic commitment. Both films challenge conventional rom-com formulas to ask deeper questions about authenticity, vulnerability, and what we owe each other.Questions We DiscussedCan men and women actually be