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Pee-Wee's Big Adventure brings Paul Reubens' famous character to the big screen intact, along with enough inspired silliness to dazzle children of all ages.
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (6) | DVD (6)
"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" isn't a movie but a collection of found objects from the garbage heap of low culture... Jan 2, 2018 | Full Review…
"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" isn't a movie but a collection of found objects from the garbage heap of low culture...
Paul Attanasio
Reubens always lets us feel superior to his creation, and when his character slips, as it does more than once in this first feature outing, his own condescension shows through. Feb 9, 2010 | Full Review…
Reubens always lets us feel superior to his creation, and when his character slips, as it does more than once in this first feature outing, his own condescension shows through.
Dave Kehr
Fair warning: this movie could induce terminal boredom in adults and rot the minds of the young. Feb 9, 2010 | Full Review…
Fair warning: this movie could induce terminal boredom in adults and rot the minds of the young.
Children should love the film and adults will be dismayed by the light brushstrokes with which Paul Reubens (one of three credited screenwriters, but star-billed under his stage name, Pee-wee Herman) suggests touches of Buster Keaton and Eddie Cantor. Feb 9, 2010 | Full Review…
Children should love the film and adults will be dismayed by the light brushstrokes with which Paul Reubens (one of three credited screenwriters, but star-billed under his stage name, Pee-wee Herman) suggests touches of Buster Keaton and Eddie Cantor.
Variety Staff
Fed by comic tributaries perhaps, but Pee-Wee Herman comes over as a delightful original. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
Fed by comic tributaries perhaps, but Pee-Wee Herman comes over as a delightful original.
Brian Case
You have been warned. May 20, 2003
You have been warned.
Vincent Canby
Tim Burton's first (and best) movie... Mar 22, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Tim Burton's first (and best) movie...
David Nusair
It's a true original -- a comedy maverick that looks and feels like no other movie I know. Jul 31, 2015 | Full Review…
It's a true original -- a comedy maverick that looks and feels like no other movie I know.
David Sterritt
It's a bold attempt to do something dazzlingly original, although some of the gags are spectacularly unfunny and Pee-wee's nervous prattling can become irritating. Jul 31, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's a bold attempt to do something dazzlingly original, although some of the gags are spectacularly unfunny and Pee-wee's nervous prattling can become irritating.
David Parkinson
Burton demonstrates his knack for building seemingly dynamic meta-worlds inside our own world, depicting Pee Wee's own journey as exciting, harrowing, and often times scary. Nov 1, 2014 | Full Review…
Burton demonstrates his knack for building seemingly dynamic meta-worlds inside our own world, depicting Pee Wee's own journey as exciting, harrowing, and often times scary.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
The film's inventiveness is on display from the get-go. Oct 4, 2012 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
The film's inventiveness is on display from the get-go.
Matt Brunson
Chiefly successful because of its commitment to an artistic ideal: make something that looks, talks, feels, and moves like a cartoon. Aug 27, 2012 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
Chiefly successful because of its commitment to an artistic ideal: make something that looks, talks, feels, and moves like a cartoon.
Tim Brayton
Often too juvenile to bear, but for the other moments it's mostly just pure, exuberant fun. Full review later.
Super Reviewer
Tim Burton's "Peewee's Big Adventure" is arguably scarier than it is funny, blending the darkness and lightness together, and I absolutely loved that contrast. The odd visuals and the bubbly soundtrack make this film a joy to watch, even though sometimes it forgets what kind of film it is trying to be, throwing in random jump scares. The story is simple, Peewee's bike is stolen and the film is his journey to bring it back. It is a very fun tale that many films after have clearly been influenced by. Some people may be turned off by it's two-sidedness, but I loved that about it. The art direction is really commendable and is what I'll remember this film most for, and of course, the Peewee character. This is an extremely fun movie!
The start of Tim Burton's great directing career. "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is odd, funny, and entertaining. So many iconic moments, from the Alamo to Large Marge to Pee-wee's trek through Hollywood. I also love how Danny Elfman's score perfectly syncs to the film. The screenwriters did a great job with the script by creating truly memorable characters and scenes. Add Burton's quirky directing skills and what we get is one humorous adventure. Mickey: Well, I lost my temper and I took a knife and I uh-. Do you know those "Do Not Remove Under the Penalty of Law" labels they put on mattresses? Pee-wee: Yeah. Mickey: Well I CUT one of them off!
In three words: manic goofy weirdness. This marked Tim Burton's directorial debut, and, not only was it a big breakthrough for him, but a big stepping stone for co-writer and star Paul Reubens (credited as Pee-wee Herman) and composer Danny Elfman. The story follows the adventure of Pee-wee Herman, a lovable goofy man child who sets out on a cross country trip to recover his beloved bicycle that was stolen from him. Along the way he meets a wide variety of zany colorful characters, gets into some nutty situations, and truly does have a big adventure. The film is extremely offbeat, but that's probbbaly why it has become such a beloved cult classic. It's also an exercise in style and genre hopping, from road movies to German expressionism, with bits of surrealism and a whole lot more. This is an utterly wacky and lovable movie, and I can't beieve it took me so long to finally see it. I always sorta dug Pee-wee, even though a little bit of his shtick goes a long way. You really have to admire Reubens for his dedication to keeping in character, which isn't easy to do, especially with someone so delirious off kilter as Herman. Elizabeth Daily is good as Pee-wee's friend (who wants to be more than friends) Dottie, Diane Salinger is fun as a waitress named Simone who longs to see Paris, and Judd Omen is great as Mickey- the criminal on the lam who Pee-wee hitches a ride from. Lots of Tim Burton trademarks started here, from the misunderstood social outcast protagonist, to the partnership with Elfman, the offbeat style and crazy art direction. Speaking of all of that: it's top notch, especially Elfman's delightful score. All in all, this is a real gem. It's definitely not for all tastes, but if you crave something wacky, and odd, but still pretty harmless, then this is the film for you.
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