La grande avventura di Pee-Wee

"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.

Pee-Wee is not part of my childhood but I've heard many internet people talk about him later. The funny weirdo character suits well together with the director Tim Burton's wild imaginative visions. Mostly it's colorful and cheerful but sometimes also darker vibes are thrown in, like a rainy street view that reminded me of the gothic style of his later Batman films.

It's a really funny adventure comedy film but you need to have a certain childlike attitude to enjoy it. If you're too serious you might find Pee-Wee's constant giggling a bit annoying. I personally liked the whole movie a lot.

Not ever being a fan of "Pee Wee Herman" (Paul Reubens), I found myself very surprised that I enjoyed this movie when it first came out on VHS and several viewings since (including on DVD.)

Despite Pee Wee's stupid character he's still a likable guy and the movie is outrageously funny, a tribute in part to the visuals of director Tim Burton. This is one of his earliest films and his first "hit." It began to stamp him as someone who could make stylish films with a good sense of the absurd.

It took four viewings until I finally got sick of Pee Wee's stupid laugh, which he overdoes and finally made me reduce the rating of the film from '9' to '7." This is another one of these films for kids and adults.

Once Pee Wee gets on the road looking for his missing bicycle, the films gets rolling and has some memorable stops on the way (large dinosaurs, his famous "Tequila" dance, "Large Marge" and other assorted strange scenes, all of which are very entertaining.)

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.

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.