Details
Movie Description
The imaginative, hilarious comedy, PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE, stars happy-go-lucky Pee-Wee Herman (aka comedian Paul Reubens.) Pee-Wee Herman is not an average little boy--he exists in a grown-up body, has a penchant for 1950s Retro memorabilia, and lives in a zany, make-believe world. He is on a mission to find his beloved red bicycle, which has been stolen, and on the way Pee-Wee has a series of cartoon-like adventures.
When a fortune teller instructs Pee-Wee to look for his bike in the basement of the Alamo, he takes her advice. Embarking on a kind of Hero's Journey, Pee-Wee comes into contact with characters even crazier than he is. One of the more memorable scenes comes after he starts up a touching friendship with a romantic waitress (Diane Salinger) and is chased by her boyfriend (Jon Harris) around a park of giant dinosaur models until he finds himself in an unfriendly biker bar where, in order to avoid being killed, he performs an impromptu dance to the old surfer tune "Tequila." With imaginative sets and dream sequences that use claymation and pixilated models, PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE is a side-splitting comedy that references almost every Hollywood genre, especially the perennial favorite Road Movie.
Film Notes
The character of Pee-Wee Herman is the invention of comedic writer-actor Paul Reubens, who began performing as the character in a West Coast improv group, developing THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW for cable television (for adults), and, later, the children's Saturday morning show which was as big a hit with adults as it was with kids.
Paul Reubens chose director Tim Burton to direct PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE after seeing his short film FRANKENWEENIE.
Co-screenwriter Phil Hartman made his mark in comedy as one of the longest-running cast members of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
Cowboy Curly, one of the Pee-Wee shows' characters, was played by Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburn.
PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE was followed by a sequel, BIG TOP PEE-WEE (1988).
Industry Reviews
"...Looney and beguiling..."
Variety - Loyn. (07/31/1985)
"...Outstanding..."
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (05/24/2002)
"...Burton's directorial debut is genuinely winsome..."
Entertainment Weekly - Entertainment Weekly Staff (05/23/2003)
"Equally brilliant and, yes, life-affirming."
USA Today - Mike Clark (04/27/2004)
Quotations
"I know you are, but what am I?! I know you are, but what am I?! I know you are, but what am I?!" says Pee-Wee (over and over) in a name-calling match with Francis.
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