Rob Reiner Did Nothing by Half Measures

If you were to tease out a unifying thread through three of the signature films directed by Rob Reiner—This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally…—what you’d find is a tempered sweetness, a kind of resilient exultation informed by the knowledge that little in life ever goes as planned. The surprise twists in our lives make for more happiness over the long haul, because they can’t happen unless we remain awake to the possibility of joy every minute. That would be a glistening legacy for any filmmaker, and Reiner, who was found dead on Sunday along with his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, left us with that and more.