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.
Release Year: 1985
Rating: 6.9/10 (24,415 voted)
Critic's Score: 47/100
Director:
Tim Burton
Stars: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton
Storyline The cartoonish and childish character Pee Wee Herman goes on a big adventure for the first time ever when his beloved shiny new bicycle is stolen by his nemesis Francis Buxton, a fellow man-child and neighborhood rich "kid." And he sets off on an obsessive cross-country journey, determined to recover it. Pee-wee's awkward and childish attempts to be cool and mature.
Writers: Phil Hartman, Paul Reubens
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
Taglines:
You will believe a man can ride a bike.
Release Date: 9 August 1985
Filming Locations: 1846 Oxley St., South Pasadena, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $6,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $99,184
(USA)
(28 July 1985)
(21 Screens)
Gross: $40,940,662
(USA)
(10 November 1985)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Pee-wee is hitchhiking to the Alamo, the Texas-shaped sign he holds up has a big star on it indicating his destination. But the star isn't where the actual Alamo is located (San Antonio). Instead the star is over Bracketville, the location of the Alamo facade used in many western and period movies.
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
When Pee Wee removes his bike chain from its container, the chain is clearly seen begin fed through a hole in the bottom. This is only visible in unmatted fullscreen home video.
Okay, so it loses a bit of steam in the final third, but that's true of
most movies. It still rates a ten. The first film by Paul Ruebens, Tim
Burton and the incomparable film composer Danny Elfman, it bubbles with
the pure joy and exuberance of three talented people playing with a
brand new toy. No film has ever been more fun to watch.
Reubens' media crucifixion in the early 90's was a crime against pop
culture. America's snickering sanctimony stifled and virtually silenced
one of the few original voices in the entertainment industry. I'm only
thankful that Pee-wee lives on in video-land, so that my children and I
can continue to enjoy his film and television work (the new DVD of "Big
Adventure", by the way, is a treasure).
Pee-wee Herman, it's time to come back! Your loyal fans await your
triumphant return. And to all those sicko name-callers out there, we
have only one thing to say:
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