This is a very dramatic poster for a comedy. It looks more like a murder mystery than a kid's movie. For eight year old me, Pee Wee’s lost bike was a tragedy. When you're young your bike getting stolen feels like the world's falling apart. This film captured that and was my most watched film as a kid. Pee Wee’s world felt good, a safe place for big emotions, for being silly, and for cross dressing.
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure was dramatic and heart breaking, I felt sad when Pee Wee doesn’t turn around to see his bike on a truck right behind him, and thrilled as he starts dancing to get all the bikers to love him. Pee Wee’s exhibition of personality in the face of ups and downs gave me permission to be myself. Pee Wee keeps making big mistakes in movie but all the while he is bright, loud and caring. Later when Pee Wee’s Playhouse came on TV it was magical. It was like the movie expanded a chapter every Saturday morning. To this day the kids I grew up with can quote whole Large Marge speech.
I’m not sure what Pee Wee did to us as kids, but I know it was a good thing.
