Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Who knew that the story of a stolen bike would be able to turn its man-child main character into a household name and launch its director from ‘up-and-coming’ status to Hollywood’s must-have man? Much like the star of the film himself, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is the kind of film that defies the odds and captures the hearts and minds of a select, devoted audience.

Pee-wee Herman, a grown man with the heart and demeanor of a child, loves his bicycle. His neighbor Francis, another adult with childlike tendencies, wants Pee-wee’s bike but can’t have it. One day, Francis manages to steal the bike without being seen, crushing Pee-wee’s heart. No one seems to care about something as minor as a stolen bike but Pee-wee is determined to get his bike back. Seeing Pee-wee’s unending devotion for his bike, Francis wisely sells it so he won’t get in trouble.

After consulting a psychic who feeds him a bunch of bull, Pee-wee sets off on a wild and weird journey across the USA for his beloved bike. This trip takes him to Texas and all the way to California. Along the way he encounters a number of colorful and oddball characters every bit as unique as Pee-wee himself.

Pee-wee Herman lives in his own world. While he interacts with the real world on a daily basis, Pee-wee and reality are like oil and water. Half of the humor found in this film comes from how the barrage of supporting characters react to Pee-wee’s mannerisms and antics. This is a rare feat for a comedy accomplished most successfully in films like The Jerk and Borat. A lot of comedians would like to think themselves capable of crafting such a character but the cream always rises to the top.

That’s not to say that Pee-wee is a triumph as a character. Perhaps it is because I grew up with Pee-wee Herman and his quirks as a part of my cultural lexicon but the character begins to get annoying after a while. Seeing him for a few minutes on a Saturday morning TV show is one thing. Much like the numerous Saturday Night Live skits turned into movies, 90 minutes of Pee-wee may prove to be more than some can handle.

Credit has to be given to Paul Reubens for always giving Pee-wee 110%. It has to be physically and mentally exhausting to make a character as quirky as Pee-wee Herman. Reubens must have tapped into some kind of secret inner-strength to find the manic energy necessary to bring Pee-wee to life. Love for the character simply can’t be enough.

Aside from a number of neat set locations and visual allusions to other films, there isn’t much to be wowed by in this film. The story is quirky but straightforward. The aesthetics are interesting but nothing compared to the gothic flavor that would consume much of director Tim Burton’s later work. As long as a few corny antics and goofy gags will suffice in a comedy, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure may just be your thing.

While it is undeniably an interesting blend of innocent and adult humor, this film ultimately isn’t my thing. Pee-wee definitely has his moments of genuine humor and you would have a hard time not laughing at least once during this film, there is a reason why Pee-wee’s Big Adventure has a cult following. It may have something for everyone but it’s almost entirely a guilty pleasure kind of film.

RATING: 2.75 out of 5