High-school. The 80s. My buddies and I are at the community movie-plex, and I’m too cool for them already, getting (belatedly, actually) into “new wave,” U2, R.E.M. and even the Paisley Underground, and they still love the heavy metal I did last year, and they probably want to see this new Pee-Wee Herman movie just because the god-awful Twisted Sister is in it somewhere. I’ve not been impressed by the one Pee-Wee bit I’ve seen, and associate him for some reason with National Lampoon-style titty comedies that my budding Christian-yet-hipster identity is repelled by. It’s going to be a Porky’s, that sort of thing. Gawd—well, I can endure, and these guys are my friends. Can’t be as bad as Footloose, or Clue: the Movie, right?
And then, what unfolds is probably the most fun I’ve ever had at the movies.
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure…about mid-way through, it has already won my heart, the audience is in the groove, laughing at every scene, and then…the ‘Large Marge’ moment. My friends, myself, everyone, have just lost it. Tears down our faces, falling out of our chairs, hitting one another, laughing so hard we can hardly refocus our eyes…
Sure, the last ten-minutes are luke-warm compared to the rest, but as a whole, a comic masterpiece. My friends were hipper than I, turns out.
Paul Rubens, the creator of the Pee-Wee character and movies (there was a second, infinitely-inferior one), passed away today. Cancer, age 70. Of course part of my thought-process is, was he vaxxed? But in any case, RIP, Mr. Rubens. I have foul memories of the sad “jokes” told at your expense when you got caught jacking-off at a porn theater in 1991, an ugly media moment indeed, but they fade to nothing when remembering your beautiful, astoundingly funny, and totally surprising-to-me film. I’ve since seen some of your early stand-up skits and mostly enjoyed those—I’m not the best fan for stand-up, I gotta admit, and I was right to be generally against the National Lampoon-izing and Saturday Night Live-zing of American humor/talk in the 80s/early 90s, but you stood out in a number of ways, and most of your work stands the test of time. Yes, your Pee-Wee character and movie was, a bit like I’ve said about Star Wars, something of a moment, something where various cultural strands—particularly the camp-side of the nostalgia of the 80s for the 50s--briefly came together, via your genius, to produce something amazing. A moment you made the most of.
I’ve only seen a few episodes of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. I really should give those another look, since I work a lot—substitute teacher—with younger kids these days, and like you evidently did, get a charge out of the ridiculous kinds of fun one can stir with them (you have to also be a sober orderly adult figure when teaching, or when helping teachers, but if you do your job right, there will be times that invite pure play, and inspired by Jonathan Richman and perhaps you also, I do have a knack for those moments). Maybe as a social conservative, and as a cultural critic who only can abide so much ironic “fun,” I would find a number of things to object to in the series. Any TV schtick gets old after a point anyhow. Maybe—but I suspect I’d find it largely good times.
In any case, thank you Mr. Rubens, and au revoir, Pee-Wee!
Spot-on.
Pee-Wee’s Christmas Special is pure genius, just like his Big-Adventure -a holiday staple around here along with other classics. Among its great positives - actual articulation of the story of the birth of Jesus from a denizen of Hollywood. And a VERY young Lawrence Fishburne!
I didn’t realize until recently that the Adventure was co-written by Phil Hartman, which makes wonderful sense. One of my chief disappointments (among many) in the abject folly of the COVID response was that it led to the cancellation of Reubens’ 35th anniversary tour/showing of the movie with discussion afterward. What a terrific opportunity missed.
Last comment - Reubens apparently appeared on a documentary about the Israeli military because, if I recall correctly, his father was a fighter pilot. What a surprise!
RIP, a great talent! 😢
Meka leka hi meka hiney ho…
https://youtu.be/XN5kVvR8VQI
One of my high school friends and I were big Pee Wee Herman fans too.
“I’m a loner Dotty, a rebel.”
https://youtu.be/mKLizztikRk