Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

I've written in some of my earlier reviews that I'm a bit biased towards things I grew up enjoying. For example, when it comes to entertainment, my generation had it a lot better than the youth of today. Look at the schedule of Saturday morning cartoons from between 1986 and 1996, and I'd bet that most of the shows that aired during that period are better than most of the shows marketed towards kids nowadays. And I'll admit that Saved by the Bell was really lame even back when it was popular, but I'd almost rather watch it than The Suite Life of Zack and Cody or whatever other crappy sitcoms the Disney Channel is churning out.

But out of all the kids shows that have ever aired, I doubt there is one that will ever be able to match the sheer madcap insanity of Pee-wee's Playhouse, starring the one and only Pee-wee Herman. If you haven't heard of Pee-wee's Playhouse, you're really missing out. There's no real way to describe the show, other than it looks like what would happen if you watched Howdy Doody during an acid trip. It ran as part of CBS's Saturday morning programming block from 1986 to 1990, and I loved every second of its bizarre surrealism.

I didn't realize until I was a teenager, however, that the character of Pee-wee had existed for some time prior the debut of Pee-wee's Playhouse. The creation of comedian Paul Reubens, Pee-wee's origins can be traced back to 1977, during Reubens's tenure as a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe. But the character's first significant appearance didn't happen until 1980, when Reubens began The Pee-wee Herman Show. A live stage show starring Reubens, the late, great Phil Hartman, and other Groundlings alumni, The Pee-wee Herman Show became so popular that one performance was broadcast on HBO.

While Reubens — or more accurately, Pee-wee — enjoyed plenty of exposure thanks to The Pee-wee Herman Show and his appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, he would hit officially hit the big time with Pee-wee's first movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. And not only was it Pee-wee's first movie, but it was the first feature-length movie to be directed by Tim Burton and scored by Danny Elfman. And let me tell you, Pee-wee's Big Adventure is just as crazy as you'd expect it to be.

As you can more than likely surmise, the story revolves around Pee-wee (Reubens), a childlike man who absolutely cherishes his tricked-out bicycle. Such is Pee-wee's love for his bicycle that when it goes missing, he goes off the deep end and becomes an emotional wreck. He immediately suspects Francis Buxton (Mark Holton), an annoying rich kid who has long coveted the bike in question, but Pee-wee ultimately has no proof that Francis is guilty of any wrongdoing.Desperate to reacquire his beloved possession, he seeks the help of a dishonest psychic that tells him his bicycle is in the basement of the Alamo. Not willing to wait for any other leads, Pee-wee hitchhikes across the country, hoping to be reunited with his bicycle.

If you grew up during Pee-wee's heyday in the latter part of the '80s, then you've probably already seen and loved Pee-wee's Big Adventure. That would make reading this review the equivalent of me preaching to the choir. But the uninitiated among you who have yet to see it are really missing out on a fun, surreal movie that isn't quite like anything else.

But how has the movie managed to hold up so well over the last twenty-five years? It may be due to the nostalgia factor. The movie is a total relic of the '80s, a kitschy piece of retro pop culture that could have only been made back then. And that's what's so fantastic about it. I can't speak for anyone else, but every time I watch Pee-wee's Big Adventure, I feel like a little kid again. It makes me remember just how much fun it was to watch this movie when I was little, and I enjoy that. There's also the fact that it's a good movie, plain and simple. It's a movie whose creative elements all effectively gel together to create an hour and a half of pure silly entertainment.

Let's follow my usual routine and begin with the direction. At the helm is Tim Burton, making his debut as a feature film director. You can definitely see his involvement, as it has the distinct style that you'd expect from Burton's work. Pee-wee's Big Adventure doesn't have the same gothic feel of his future movies, but it still has the same energy, the same passion. Burton injects the story with a particular sense of whimsy that makes even the most ludicrous of scenes believable. I honestly do not think anyone other than Tim Burton could have directed this movie; it just wouldn't have been the same otherwise.

It does help, though, that he manages to get a fantastic score out of Danny Elfman, who at the time was known primarily as the leader of the experimental rock band Oingo Boingo. Pee-wee's Big Adventure marks Elfman's first orchestral score, but he sounds like he'd been at it forever. His music here perfectly adds to the almost childlike fantasy feel the movie has.

But Burton's direction and Elfman's score are only parts of what makes Pee-wee's Big Adventure so great. Another element is the script, penned by Paul Reubens himself, Phil Hartman, and Michael Varhol. The script is loaded with silly non-sequiturs, wacky characters, and some of the most entertaining nonsense imaginable. It's really a series of skits interconnected by the thread of Pee-wee's search for his bike, but Reubens, Hartman, and Varhol handle it perfectly.

The last element that makes the movie what it is is the wonderful cast. Though the focus of the movie is obviously Pee-wee, the supporting characters all make a strong impression as well. Judd Omen and Diane Salinger are likable in their tiny roles as an escaped convict and a truck stop waitress that Pee-wee meets during his exploits, and Mark Holton is deliciously sleazy as the greedy, immature Francis. You want to reach through the screen and strangle Francis as soon as you see him, so Holton was obviously hitting the right notes with his performance.

My favorite performance from the supporting cast, though, came from Elizabeth Daily as Dottie, a bike shop clerk who pines for Pee-wee's affection. She's sweet and charming in the role, and though her screen time is sadly limited, Daily really adds a lot to the movie.

However, the entire movie is carried by Paul Reubens. Had his performance been bad or even mediocre, then it would have completely ruined the entire movie. But Reubens doesn't disappoint. He's hilarious, serving as the master of ceremonies in this outrageous cinematic circus. It almost doesn't even feel like an actor playing a character, but like Burton managed to catch a childlike lunatic in a grey suit on film. (Maybe that's why the cast roll call in the credits lists not Reubens, but "Pee-wee Herman as himself.") Reubens is having a heck of a lot of fun, and it's infectious.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure actually may not appeal to everyone. Gene Siskel actually gave it a zero-star review when it was released. But the sheer insanity of it is amazingly delightful. I mean, how many other movies have you seen that climax with a chase scene that includes Santa Claus, Godzilla, and Twisted Sister? None, that's how many. Pee-wee's Big Adventure is the only one that I know of. I absolutely love it, so I'll gladly give the movie four and a half stars on the Five-Star Sutton Scale. And if you're curious, yes, I do know what you are. But what am I?

Final Rating: ****½