Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Directed by Tim Burton. Starring Paul Reubens, Mark Holton, E. G. Daily, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen, John Harris, Tony Bill, Daryl Keith Roach, Erica Yohn, Jan Hooks, Alice Nunn. [PG]

Child-in-an-adult’s-body oddball Pee-wee Herman (Reubens) gets his precious bike stolen and goes on a wild adventure to find it. First outing for the popular stage show creation benefits from plenty of bright, surreal visual invention from director Burton (his feature film debut) and Danny Elfman’s fiddle-footed musical themes; Reubens’ characterization can’t be faulted, and he’s sporadically hilarious…but a little of him goes a long way. Highlights include the crime evidence meeting, the Alamo tour, his “big screen debut,” Large Marge, and an excursion at a biker bar. Even at just 90 minutes, it’s hard to sustain interest in his cartoonish, episodic journey, but there’s always a fun moment around the corner to fight off the Z’s. Die-hard fans of Pee-wee will doubtlessly rate this one higher; those who don’t like him at all best just keep on walkin’. Cameos include James Brolin, Cassandra Peterson, Phil Hartman (who also co-scripted), several others. Followed by a children’s TV series (“Pee-wee’s Playhouse”) and a couple of sequels.

64/100