Pee-wee's Big Adventure

I have to admit that I don't know too much about Pee-wee Herman outside from his real-life mishaps, so this is pretty much my only exposure to him. The plot of course has him looking for his bike and experiencing some weird situations along the way. That whole skit with the bikers was pretty cool. Tim Burton was clearly showing his skills as a director here.

All in all, "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is a movie that you're bound to like. Maybe it's not exactly a laugh a minute, but it's still quite neat. It makes you feel like a child all over again. Look for Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, James Brolin, Morgan Fairchild and Milton Berle in small roles.

What a fantastic story. Pee Wee Herman goes on a cross country adventure to find his missing bicycle. Why on earth didn't this movie get a proper follow-up with the same filmmakers? It's weird and silly with a twisted sense of humor. This movie holds up over repeated viewings.

Hilarious movie and always will be. Has not aged one minute since I first saw it over sixteen years ago. You cannot say that about every movie, hell you can't say about about ANY movie!

Now that its one of the cornerstones of Comedy Central, its on quite often and I watch it from time to time. So do my nephews, who love to quote this movie more than any other one.

Paul Reubens really gave us a gift with Pee Wee. I guess the character was never meant to live forever and we will always have this comedy to enjoy. It was light years better than 'Big Top Pee Wee' which I also saw.

To the child in all of us, I say...'I know you are but what am I?'

PS For trivia fans, Simeone and Pee Wee were reunited by Tim Burton in 'Batman Returns', as the Penguins' parents.

Okay, so it loses a bit of steam in the final third, but that's true of most movies. It still rates a ten. The first film by Paul Ruebens, Tim Burton and the incomparable film composer Danny Elfman, it bubbles with the pure joy and exuberance of three talented people playing with a brand new toy. No film has ever been more fun to watch.

Reubens' media crucifixion in the early 90's was a crime against pop culture. America's snickering sanctimony stifled and virtually silenced one of the few original voices in the entertainment industry. I'm only thankful that Pee-wee lives on in video-land, so that my children and I can continue to enjoy his film and television work (the new DVD of "Big Adventure", by the way, is a treasure).

Pee-wee Herman, it's time to come back! Your loyal fans await your triumphant return. And to all those sicko name-callers out there, we have only one thing to say:

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" seems to be a prime example of a mess of a movie. However, I cannot help but like this strange film. Tim Burton's direction is uncanny and Paul Reubens' amazing enthusiasm as the title character make this film one of the strangest over-achievers in the history of the cinema. Actually a good film that never seems old or dated. 4 stars out of 5.