Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Starring: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Phil Hartman (cameo), James Brolin (cameo), Morgan Fairchild (cameo)
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is shocked when his beloved bicycle is stolen. He begins a cross-country trip to track it down, meeting strange people along the way.

Review:

Tim: Before this viewing, I hadn't seen Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 15+ years. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't as good as I remembered it. I was a fan as kid, but I obviously didn't know any better. There are some legitimately funny moments in this film, but unfortunately, they are sandwiched in between annoying, stupid, pointless moments that pervade much of the film.

I suppose to a certain extent, you have to respect a movie for being so completely odd and crazy. Everything about this movie is bizarre. I guess I did not realize that this was Tim Burton's feature film directorial debut, but he was probably the right director for the job- his preferences match up well with this zany, unique movie. This film does occasionally reek of a first-time director, though. There are certain limitations that are Burton's fault. While Burton shows some of his oddball genius, but he would definitely go on to make better films.

What most surprised me about this film were my feelings toward Pee-wee Herman. I remember being a fan as a kid, but I can say my feelings have changed. Maybe some of this is due to the real-life struggles of Paul Reubens, but the guy just creeped me out. He was such a gigantic man-child, giggling and laughing (oh my God, the laughing... the annoying, nonstop laughing...) constantly throughout the entire film. My favorite scenes were the ones when Pee-wee was sad or depressed, because at least he wouldn't unleash that annoying laugh. Whatever appeal Pee-wee might have had has been completely lost. He just seemed so silly and pointless. I'm not sure if that means I am jaded now that I'm older, but I thought his character was stupid. I will admit that Reubens deserves credit for creating such a unique, memorable character. Pee-wee is certainly unforgettable, and for that, he should be recognized.

I do have to give Burton credit for piling so much into this one film. Road trip movies often do that, but it is still enjoyable here. I can't even begin to describe everything in this movie- ghost truck drivers, convicts, cross-dressing, multicolored elephants, James Brolin, the Alamo, the Warner Brothers studio lot, Godzilla, and so much more. It's like a crazy nightmare. There are actually stretches of the movie that were very enjoyable- these are typically the ones where Pee-wee bounces from scene to scene, meeting strange people who help him along the way. Many of these scenes were fun, and I didn't mind them at all. The worst parts of the film are the beginning and the end (which obviously hurt the movie).

I wish that I had liked this movie better, but it was a bit of a chore to get through. It was very strange to watch scenes that I only vaguely remembered from my childhood. Despite that bit of nostalgia, I just couldn't bring myself to like this movie.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Big Top Pee-wee