Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rochester.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!vecpyr!lll-crg!seismo!rochester!henry From: henry@rochester.UUCP Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: Pee Wee Hermans Big Adventure Message-ID: <11094@rochester.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 18:43:27 EDT Article-I.D.: rocheste.11094 Posted: Fri Aug 16 18:43:27 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 03:47:36 EDT Sender: henry@rochester.UUCP Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept. Lines: 44 From: Henry.Kautz PEEWEE HERMAN'S BIG ADVENTURE PeeWee Herman is a classic comic character, a modern-day Buster Keaton or "Little Tramp". His costume and makeup is, in fact, that of a silent-movie star. His personality is that of the innocent child, who none the less is infinitely resouceful (like Chaplin's character), but pathos is replaced by the manic energy of Bugs Bunny. PeeWee Herman has appeared on the Tonight Show and MTV; now he has a full-length movie out, his BIG ADVENTURE. Nominally, the film is about PeeWee's search for his stolen bicycle. In reality, it is a reworking and distillation of dozens of old silent comedies (his main enemy in the movie, by the way, is an imitation of Fatty Arbuckle), classic Warner Brother cartoons of the 50's, and 60's TV shows, such as Leave it to Beaver. So its a movie about movies, and its also a movie about STUFF. What kinds of STUFF? TOYS, the NEAT STUFF that was advertised in comic books and Boy's Life, like X-Ray Specs or crystal radio kits, which were always a bit disappointing when you finally got them, but were wonderful to dream about. PeeWee is never disappointed; he loves it all, and refuses to enter the adult world, where we must "put away our childish things". The central THING in the movie is the Bicycle: it is the bike you dreamed about on Christmas Eve as a little kid, the bike that can take you anywhere, at least in your imagination. PeeWee's imagination is very close to the surface; his dreams -- and nightmares -- get mixed up with reality. I think that's an important part of childhood, too. I won't spoil the movie by telling you the jokes: it's mostly physical and visual humor (but very little real violence; nothing like the Three Stooges brand of head-bashing). Besides, none of the bits are new! The movie does go on too long; even at 90 minutes, it could stand to either lose about 20 minutes, or pack in some more jokes. (Mel Brook's SILENT MOVIE suffered on the same account, as I recall.) I enjoyed the movie a lot. (Many other people there, however, were puzzled and bored. Oh, well...) Sex 'n violence 'n filthy language? None (ah, too bad). Take Grandma and the kids... ---- Henry Kautz :uucp: {seismo|allegra}!rochester!henry :arpa: henry@rochester :mail: Dept. of Comp. Sci., U. of Rochester, NY 14627 :phone: (716) 275-5766