Ah, Pee-Wee Herman. A bizarre, repressed man-child of a character. (Or is he simply just a literal child? The character is as mysterious as he is hilarious!) He's always been a personal favorite comedic character of mine, and I've been of fan of his first film "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" since I was a child. So when I recently (and finally) had the chance to watch his second feature, "Big Top Pee-Wee", I was excited! What new adventures would Pee-Wee get into this time?
As it turns out... this film (not really a sequel to the original film or related to his fantastic TV-show) wasn't worth the wait at all, unfortunately.
"Big Top Pee-Wee" is a bizarre, unsettling, strangely boring and distressingly darkly toned big-screen follow-up that somehow is able to turn the delightfully quirky Herman into an unlikable jerk who commits infidelity and loses any and all audience appeal. Oh, and there's a talking pig who almost completely destroys the film on his own. Yup... yup.
The film follows Pee-Wee at his new home on an animal farm, where he is conducting chemistry experiments to try and make fruits and vegetables larger, as well as create new breeds of plants, like a "Hot-Dog tree." When a circus is suddenly blown into his backyard during a terrible storm, Pee-Wee decides to help them put on a show, despite protests from the nearby town's ruthless elderly residents. Pee-Wee is also torn by his attraction to circus performer Gina (Valeria Golino) and his engagement to a local schoolteacher. (Penelope Ann Miller)
On paper, that actually sounds like a cute setup for another twisted, quirky, funny film like the first, but it is just so poorly executed that it sort of implodes under its own weight. And it isn't helped by some really hurtful sequences, including the aforementioned infidelity on Pee-Wee's part, when he all but completely cheats on Ann Miller's character.
The acting is, to the film's credit, fantastic. Paul Reubens is great as Pee-Wee, even though the character isn't likable in this film. Valeria Golino is a lot of fun (and very, very sexy) in her role. Penelope Ann Miller is a lot of fun as Pee-Wee's former bride-to-be. And supporting roles by the likes of Kris Kristopherson and Susan Tyrrell are great. The only exception is Wayne White as the voice of Vance, Pee-Wee's talking pig. It's too silly and forced and just doesn't work. The musical score by a returning Danny Elfman is also an absolute blast, and is one of the film's only other saving graces.
However, the rest of the production is just flat as a pancake.
The script by Reubens and George McGrath is aimless and dull, giving Herman little to do in his own film. Though don't worry, other characters have even less to do than him, so he's still the focus. And as mentioned above, it makes Herman too savage and unlikable. Director Randal Kleiser seems in over his head, and his visual style is just poor all around. Many scenes are boringly shot with the camera just sort of plopped down wherever. The set and costume design is also a huge step down after the prior film, cheapening the overall look.
The production and behind-the-scenes work is just too sub-par for this film to function. If this was another Tim Burton film, I think it would have worked a lot better. Because as is, the creative team behind this entry just don't seem like they understand how to make a Pee-Wee Herman film.
Sadly, after the fantastic "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", this just felt like a colossal letdown. It's boring, unlikable (borderline loathsome) and poorly-shot, with only a fraction of the creativity of other Pee-Wee projects.
"Big Top Pee-Wee" gets a 3 out of 10. Skip it unless you're a Pee-Wee completionist.
As it turns out... this film (not really a sequel to the original film or related to his fantastic TV-show) wasn't worth the wait at all, unfortunately.
"Big Top Pee-Wee" is a bizarre, unsettling, strangely boring and distressingly darkly toned big-screen follow-up that somehow is able to turn the delightfully quirky Herman into an unlikable jerk who commits infidelity and loses any and all audience appeal. Oh, and there's a talking pig who almost completely destroys the film on his own. Yup... yup.
The film follows Pee-Wee at his new home on an animal farm, where he is conducting chemistry experiments to try and make fruits and vegetables larger, as well as create new breeds of plants, like a "Hot-Dog tree." When a circus is suddenly blown into his backyard during a terrible storm, Pee-Wee decides to help them put on a show, despite protests from the nearby town's ruthless elderly residents. Pee-Wee is also torn by his attraction to circus performer Gina (Valeria Golino) and his engagement to a local schoolteacher. (Penelope Ann Miller)
On paper, that actually sounds like a cute setup for another twisted, quirky, funny film like the first, but it is just so poorly executed that it sort of implodes under its own weight. And it isn't helped by some really hurtful sequences, including the aforementioned infidelity on Pee-Wee's part, when he all but completely cheats on Ann Miller's character.
The acting is, to the film's credit, fantastic. Paul Reubens is great as Pee-Wee, even though the character isn't likable in this film. Valeria Golino is a lot of fun (and very, very sexy) in her role. Penelope Ann Miller is a lot of fun as Pee-Wee's former bride-to-be. And supporting roles by the likes of Kris Kristopherson and Susan Tyrrell are great. The only exception is Wayne White as the voice of Vance, Pee-Wee's talking pig. It's too silly and forced and just doesn't work. The musical score by a returning Danny Elfman is also an absolute blast, and is one of the film's only other saving graces.
However, the rest of the production is just flat as a pancake.
The script by Reubens and George McGrath is aimless and dull, giving Herman little to do in his own film. Though don't worry, other characters have even less to do than him, so he's still the focus. And as mentioned above, it makes Herman too savage and unlikable. Director Randal Kleiser seems in over his head, and his visual style is just poor all around. Many scenes are boringly shot with the camera just sort of plopped down wherever. The set and costume design is also a huge step down after the prior film, cheapening the overall look.
The production and behind-the-scenes work is just too sub-par for this film to function. If this was another Tim Burton film, I think it would have worked a lot better. Because as is, the creative team behind this entry just don't seem like they understand how to make a Pee-Wee Herman film.
Sadly, after the fantastic "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", this just felt like a colossal letdown. It's boring, unlikable (borderline loathsome) and poorly-shot, with only a fraction of the creativity of other Pee-Wee projects.
"Big Top Pee-Wee" gets a 3 out of 10. Skip it unless you're a Pee-Wee completionist.