Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) Directed by Tim Burton. 1hr 30min. Rated PG
When given the green light to make his first Pee-wee Herman movie, Paul Reubens began writing a remake of his favorite childhood film, Pollyanna. But when a 1947 Schwinn Racer bike suddenly appeared outside his Warner Bros. bungalow office, Reubens and co-writers Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol pivoted. Describing the simple conceit of his “quest film,” Reubens said, “Pee-wee Herman loves his bike, bike is stolen, gets the bike back.” Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton’s debut feature, became a sleeper hit and a bona fide pop-culture phenomenon, launching Pee-wee into the stratosphere. The film’s legacy—now in its 40th year—remains unparalleled. It is a masterwork of endlessly entertaining imagination and joy.
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