PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE (WB, 1985) D: Tim Burton, w/ Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily. Rating: NNNN Blu-ray package: NNNNN Rating: NNNN
Tim Burton’s first feature is still one of his best, largely because of his affinity for Pee-wee Herman, Paul Reubens’s truly bizarre and wonderful comic character, who seems to have been hijacked from the silent era (think Harry Langdon) and force-fed a diet of Sugar Bombs cereal and the company of six-year-olds.
The very simple story – Pee-wee searches for his stolen bike – provides all the forward momentum that’s needed. It leaves ample room for lunatic asides so the movie morphs from kid-friendly slapstick to expressionist horror show and road movie.
Burton and Reubens have nothing to say about the movie’s metafictional overtones. Their commentary is devoted to memories of props and locations. This was Danny Elfman’s first score. His commentary is worth a listen more for personal than technical discussion.
EXTRAS Burton and Reubens commentary, Elfman commentary, storyboards with commentary, deleted scenes. Widescreen. English, French, Spanish audio and subtitles.
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