Pee-Wee's Big Adventure - A Quick Review

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

A Quick and Partial Review

The opening scene of the movie sets the tone. It's a fantasy of a man aspiring to be a hero. I love Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. If you want to have fun, you'll enjoy it. It's a movie I could watch a hundred times. So, my opinion is not impartial and never could be.

What's the deal?

Pee-Wee travels around the country looking for his beloved bike. He's sent on this adventure after a fortune teller tells him his bike is in the basement of the Alamo. The movie's got bikers, escaped prisoners, fake nuns, clown surgeons and more.

Why should you watch it?

Tim Burton's feature directorial debut is a classic that spawned a television series, two sequels and a live tour. It has a soundtrack by Danny Elfman, Phil Hartman (love him <3) among the writers and a custom made bike that makes me want to ride. I can't ride bikes, I'm too big of a klutz. Paul Reubens had a dream team to bring this vision to life.

Why do I love it?

I over-analyze films. Shutting off my brain and going "Gee, this is fun." is not in my nature. Movies that appear superficial and frivolous often aren't. Film like this appeal to me as long as they're weird enough to keep me entertained. The kitsch and oddities of the film show careful thought and the wild imagination of the crew.

I'm not fond of CGI being used when other tools would work. Practical effects and stop motion animation give a film visual interest. They also give films a reality that cannot be achieved otherwise because the things actually exist. This film has some of the most effective use of stop motion I've ever seen in a live action film.

Some movies try so hard to fool us rather than can create a world for us to enter. They can create another reality while acknowledging that it's just a movie. This movie succeeds in creating another reality, another world and inviting the viewer in.

Like so many of my favorite films, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is just good, quirky fun. I love it and it's worth watching over and over until you're permanently humming the Tequila Song.