Highly Overrated But Still Good

A different way of telling a story

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Blistering performances.

The odd thing about the Big Adventure is what an oddly well-made flick it is. Reuben appears to have great comedic sense/timing, Burton whips the second string cast into decent shape, and Burton's general skills in directing set design, choosing shots, setting theatrical tone, and (no doubt) his contribution to the final edit make the flick actually work. In spite of it being a bizarre, cubistic picaresquerie, the story continually rewards your investment of time and attention.But, of course, it's not a "great" movie. At heart, it's a string of comic bits which range in quality from watchable to classic. The premise isn't that someone stole Pee-Wee's bike; it's that Pee-Wee woke up in the morning. Hence, something fundamentally milkable for comic value was bound to ensue, regardless.I loved this flick, as I also loved P-W's Playhouse, back in the day. The man was absolutely ON FIRE as Pee-Wee, and I hope his legacy is appreciated as a significant part of American pop culture history.The Big Adventure is a not-half-bad encapsulation of the wonder of Pee- Wee.

"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" is one of those movies I watched repeatedly as a kid, and was caught off-guard but its all-ages appeal as an adult. My kid even tool to it surprisingly well. Didn't even bat an eye at the clowns, although I was gun-shy on Large Marge. I'll save that for when she's older.It tickles me that this is a (seemingly unlikely) Tim Burton movie, and there' a distinct "Better Off Dead" vibe with the animation (which comes outta nowhere but still totally fits). And I love that, not only is there an educational tour of the Alamo right in the middle of the adventure, but that the journey culminates in a satirical show-stopping chase through the Warner Bros. backlot.This movie's a treat.8/10

Gloriously goofy, vividly designed feature film vehicle for co-writer / star Paul Reubens' enduring character of Pee-wee Herman, a snazzily dressed man-child who lives in a world of his own. Pee-wees' world is subsequently shattered when his beloved, custom built, all- important bicycle is stolen from him, and he embarks on a cross country journey to find it again. Along the way, he will encounter escaped criminal Mickey (Judd Omen), wistful diner waitress Simone (Diane Salinger), an ominous sounding trucker named Large Marge (Alice Nunn), a gang of bikers known as the "Satan's Helpers", and runs amok at Warner Bros. Studios.This viewer can understand how a character such as Pee-wee wouldn't be to all tastes, but speaking personally, he has a blast with this amiable movie every single time. Debuting director Tim Burton, a former animator, was obviously the right choice to take the helm of such zany shenanigans. He and his production designer David L. Snyder have a great time with the material, which was conceived by Reubens, his fellow Groundlings member Phil Hartman (who has a bit as a reporter), and Michael Varhol. One good thing must be said, and that is that if one is seeing it for the first time, it has a gleefully unpredictable quality to it. The rich array of characters also helps to keep things interesting.The whole chase through Warner Bros. Studios provides what are far and away the brightest moments. Pee-wee rides his bike through the sets of a beach party movie, a Christmas movie, a Godzilla movie (!), and, most uproariously, a Twisted Sister video.Reubens is great fun as Pee-wee. Elizabeth Daily as Dottie and Ms. Salinger are endearing, and Mark Holton as Francis is a hilariously unsubtle villain. There are cameos for Morgan Fairchild, James Brolin, Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson, and Tony Bill, and bits by the likes of Lynne Marie Stewart, John Paragon, Susan Barnes, Professor Toru Tanaka, Jan Hooks, and Jason Hervey.Danny Elfmans' score is one of the heaviest assets. It's catchy and really sticks in your head.An enjoyable film for kids and young-at-heart adults, with some inspired moments of twisted nightmare imagery.Eight out of 10.

I just watched this movie again after first seeing it in the late 80's. I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed it even more last night. Reubens had the Peewee character polished to a quirky perfection in the TV series and I used to love watching for the wonderful messages it gave out. Such a pity the scandal engulfed him, and thereby the character, as I'm sure it would still be going strong even with all the years that have passed. It's a sweet plot about Peewee having his beloved bike stolen and there's some fabulous lines throughout the movie that have you just plain giggling. It's a sure sign of great comedy when it still produces laughs in this iphone addicted world. I find myself saying "This is so stupid" and it is , but it's a nice stupid and in the end you feel like a little kid yourself.