Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Phil Hartman (written by) &
Paul Reubens (written by) ...

Release Date:

9 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Comedy

Tagline:

You will believe a man can ride a bike.

Plot:

Eccentric man-child Pee-Wee Herman embarks on the big adventure of his life across the US mainland, as he sets out to find his beloved bike, when it is stolen in broad daylight.

Plot Keywords:

Pee Wee | Bicycle | Bike | Man Child | Fortune Teller

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman (as Pee-wee Herman)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Dottie
Mark Holton	...	Francis Buxton
Diane Salinger	...	Simone
Judd Omen	...	Mickey
Irving Hellman	...	Mr. Crowtray
Monte Landis	...	Mario
Damon Martin	...	Chip
David Glasser	...	BMX Kid
Gregory Brown	...	BMX Kid
Mark Everett	...	BMX Kid
Daryl Keith Roach	...	Chuck (as Daryl Roach)
Bill Cable	...	Policeman #1
Peter Looney	...	Policeman #2
Starletta DuPois	...	Sgt. Hunter

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | USA:PG (certificate #27844) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | West Germany:12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | UK:U

Filming Locations:

1846 Oxley St., South Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Cameo: [Phil Hartman]reporter interviewing Francis at the drive-in.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Just before the bull jumps over the gate after Pee-wee rides, you can see the crowd change in the background.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pee-wee: Look out, Mister Potato Head!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Lizzie McGuire: Lizzie and Kate's Big Adventure (#1.28)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

BURN IN HELL

Recommended for people who like colorful visuals and absurd characters.

Not ever being a fan of "Pee Wee Herman" (Paul Reubens), I found myself very surprised that I enjoyed this movie when it first came out on VHS and several viewings since (including on DVD.)

Despite Pee Wee's stupid character he's still a likable guy and the movie is outrageously funny, a tribute in part to the visuals of director Tim Burton. This is one of his earliest films and his first "hit." It began to stamp him as someone who could make stylish films with a good sense of the absurd.

It took four viewings until I finally got sick of Pee Wee's stupid laugh, which he overdoes and finally made me reduce the rating of the film from '9' to '7." This is another one of these films for kids and adults.

Once Pee Wee gets on the road looking for his missing bicycle, the films gets rolling and has some memorable stops on the way (large dinosaurs, his famous "Tequila" dance, "Large Marge" and other assorted strange scenes, all of which are very entertaining.)