Big Top Pee-Wee (1989, VHS)

Gather around! Gather around! Come one, come all, and feast your eyes upon the malignant atrocity I have discovered. From venturing through the wild armies of consumers that trampled the ranges of Best Buy, and upon aisle five of the DVD department, I found a specimen of abnormality resting amongst a collaboration of other bargain DVDs. This, my friends, is a spectacle that is not only capable of casting horrors upon viewers by its inane nature, but would make old fans weep as they question 'Why?', and cause the boldest of critics cringe by the movie's failure of execution. You are all probably asking yourself, 'What form of DVD dreg is bad enough to cause all this negativity?' Well, I will have to let you know this is no normal dreg, it is instead an authenticity of an example. It is a movie I am most regretful to pronounce "Big Top Pee-Wee", one of the ultimate reasons why - in most cases - the concept of making sequels are nothing more than a disaster that might blow up in the faces of cast and crew. A type of project that is so grotesque in production that it ruins all fundamentals its predecessor created and ultimately smirches the franchise of Pee-Wee Herman altogether.

Let me just illustrate the synopsis of the movie before I bash everything that is wrong with it. Pee-Wee has moved out of California and now lives near probably the dullest of country towns since "Children of the Corn"; it is a town where everyone hates Pee-Wee Herman, for some odd reason. Instead of living in the craziest house in film history, Pee-Wee instead lives on an average farm - very reminiscent to that of Dorothy's house - with farm animals, as well as his best friend; a talking pig named Vance. On the farm, and in a greenhouse, he has a 'secret' laboratory (I guess he gave up his eccentric life - free of obligations - after getting his bike in "Adventure" and used his money earned from selling both his bike, toys, and house to study Chemistry during his seasonal breaks between Pee-Wee's Playhouse), a room full of the usual "kooky" potions and experiments; one, which is the most unusual and unorthodox of botanical experiments, a plant that grows hotdogs. This time, Pee-Wee has matured sort of. Instead of being a girl-hater, he is a woman adorer who is fascinates over a woman named Winnie (even though he doesn t want to bring their relationship to the next level). He has also become a bit darker, a man with subliminal obsessions of perversions (creepier than illustrated on his comedy performance) that only a scrutinizer could notice.

In the beginning of the movie, Pee-Wee's life, as well as his attitude, isn't so jolly. He is a man who keeps to himself, has a chip on his shoulder, and doesn't seem to be as energetic. One day, his life changes in a one-eighty, when a tornado comes (through a scene that looks just like it was snatched up from Wizard of Oz, but in color) and Pee-Wee saves his farm animals and puts them in a basement. The next day comes and Pee-Wee steps outside to see a carnival placed in his front yard; a scene where circus performers practice, zoo animals galore wait in cages, and a mermaid is hoisted from out of her tank. This is when the ringleader, who goes by the name Mace Montana (Kris Kristofferson), and his wife Midge Montana (Susan Tyrrell) - a wife no larger than a thumb (I don't even want to know how the Montanas went on through with their honeymoon I'll just ignore picturing that one) - are introduced into the movie. And with them, an attractive acrobat, Gina Piccolapupula (Valeria Golina; Rain Man, Hot Shots!),steals Pee-Wee's heart.

By half way through the movie, both Mace and Pee-Wee have some major issues to resolve. Mace isn't allowed to perform in the county, and Pee-Wee is trapped in a love-triangle discovered by Winnie (Penelope Anne Miller; Along Came a Spider, Carlito's Way). From it, Pee-Wee loses Gina and so he must save the relationship (I know, when did a Pee-Wee production ever turn into a cheesy 80's love movie? Even I didn't see this one coming ). So, for the rest of the movie, Pee-Wee tries to win Gina's heart and Mace and gang tries to find a way to perform in the county. In the end, without spoiling too much, both men get their happy ending and the stubborn elderly citizens get in touch with their childhood - literally! The end credits roll and you are left there - as I have been there - staring at the television screen, while being left to ask, "What in the heck was that?"

"Big Top Pee-Wee" is an embarrassment of a film, mainly because the movie deviated from the magic apparatuses that made Paul Ruben's stand-up comedy act "The Pee-Wee Herman Show", "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", and "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" so popular of comedies. Instead of being a comedy act (where parents would enjoy), a movie like "Big Adventure" (a film that kids enjoy for it's colorful atmosphere and adults liked because of the movie's constant clash of imagination against reality ), or "Playhouse" (a show that kids appreciated more than adults, but adults still loved the show). Adults are kind of pushed aside this time, as "Big Top" seems appealing only to the children audience - most of whom enjoy circuses and consider "Big Top" as a circus movie with Pee-Wee in it, in which - this time - the film's story dominates and overshadows Pee-Wee, instead of the other way around seen the movie as a "Pee-Wee" movie. But, beyond the film itself, the setting is all jumbled up. "Adventure" had members of a quirky society that was intrinsic with the nature of Pee-Wee, while all being set in the regular world; in other words, Burton successfully blended a society of magical traits with members of our own real world and made it work. Pee-Wee did travel America and we were allowed to see oddities of people (a big baby of a pouting man who was spoiled by his prosperous father, a crazy biker Satanic cult, cheery cowboys, friends Chuck and Dotty), as well as regular people (a stressed-out fugitive, a committee of stingy producers, a polite tourist instructor, etc.,) merge together in one society without showing differences to the idiosyncrasies of Pee-Wee. The citizens gave different reactions by Pee-Wee's presence; some kids acted wowed, some people despised Pee-Wee Herman, some were more than welcomed to accept his company, some acted distant and uncomfortable while near Pee-Wee, while other characters just became accustomed to his quirkiness after a while. The depth of the characters, as well as the population, was astounding, almost astonishing as was the 'Adventure'.

Director Randal Kleiser instead went against Burton's technique and had a fascist community of characters, where a carnival of "magical" people are brought to. It doesn t blend too well because the grumpy citizens don't accept peculiarities, as would the citizens in "Big Adventure". The entire town hates Pee-Wee (except for Winnie) due to his peculiar nature, while most of the carnival accepts Pee-Wee because he can relate with the carnival members (making the society divided instead of allowing it to unify). Beyond the division of the carnival freaks and the community weirdoes, the persona of every character in the movie is very similar and lacks the traits of originality that would separate everyone; it's as if every character, besides Pee-Wee, Mace, Winnie, and Gina, were all prerecorded and unemotional robots to just stay in the background and popup when the director calls their cue.

This movie is a bit eerie as well; and not in a good, Tim Burton, way. Pee-Wee has a weird maniacal fascination over women's hair, the unusual love story in it totally contradicts everything Pee-Wee was about - a loner, a rebel he is not -, and the whole story in itself - from a rational viewpoint - gives a false message. When at the beginning, Pee-Wee is bummed out, a carnival comes, Pee-Wee makes the elderly turn into kids, and everyone's happy "The end!" It's like the creators were trying to play with the minds of younger viewers by sending the message, "If you are bummed out from a rough life, or don't like the peculiarities of other people around you, just look out for tornadoes with much hope and, one day, a tornado might just bring a carnival of magic that will spread cheer throughout everyone and make you have a happy ending!" (If this is not a stereotypical form of subliminal psychology used to contribute fascism to the viewers of the movie, then I don't know what is ) I know the producers probably didn't know where they were going with the story and didn't know I would form my own hypothesis over the movie (yet don't quote my outlook), it is still disturbing of the fact that (like Wizard of Oz) a tornado will come to save the protagonist's life. I mean, haven't the children of our own society suffered with enough lies, now they have to enthusiastically look out for twisters to suck them up in hopes for a miracle?

I found the thing that caused this film to falter was at the drawing boards during pre-production. The excellent team who wrote "Adventure" haven't returned to contribute their talented storytelling in "Big Top" and I wouldn't blame them. Phil Hartman and team, who wrote "Big Adventure" with Paul Reubens, is replaced by George McGrath (writer of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse"). It puts my mind into a deeper region of curiosity as to why the writer of the show restrained himself from bringing out all of his zany imagination (expressed in Playhouse) and only created a sub-par script. The director Randal Kleiser (Grease, Blue Lagoon, Flight of the Navigator) can't even be put into blame. I mean true, the guy made plenty of "mature" movies before he turned to direct what was supposed to be "family-oriented" Pee-Wee project, but I still can't find any reason to blame him. He did what he could and the directing was okay. I guess all the ideas were in a clutter of different motives , when in production, and slammed together in a head-on collision that made the film drastically suffer. That's what happens when you have many people, with contradicting goals, try to make a film.

There are some good qualities of the movie, yet not enough to redeem it's below average score. Pee-Wee, despite his psychotic persona, is a charm of a big kid who is accident prone in almost everything he does and has a big heart when everything goes right. Kris Kristopherson does not fail, as he normally doesn't fail in movies, as the ringleader. Gina is an enchantment of a woman who is far from compliant to tolerate Pee-Wee's relational foolishness. Vance, the talking pig (I know, rip off from Green Acres), is cute as ever. But the leads of the movie, as charming as they are, cannot save this movie from failure. It's just a sequel of which was never really requested to be put into production and really the production of another "Pee-Wee" movie didn't need to be initiated. I think everyone was happy enough with the turn out of "Playhouse" that they weren't expecting a sequel to come out, and didn't feel upset from missing out on the chance of seeing "Big Top" at the theaters. If you are a collector of historical novelties, this one is a buyer. "Big Top Pee-Wee" was the beginning of the end of Pee-Wee Herman franchise and Paul Reuben's career. I mean, artifacts that commemorate the obliteration of a Hollywood icon has to be worth a little something later on in life, doesn't it?

For anyone who is not a collection addict, you may want to think twice about buying this movie; once the plastic wrapping is taken off and the DVD case is open, you can t return the movie for money or store credit - just keep that in mind. Adults won't like the movie (which the jokes and settings are centered to kids), but the issues are not intended for kids (which some the jokes have sexual innuendo). So, all-in-all, unless you are the ultimate fan of Pee-Wee, this is a purchase best left avoided. "Big Top" is so terrible, that it will probably disappoint the casual fans of Pee-Wee Herman alike.

There are no extras, which I had no expectation (after having seen the movie) the producers would include anything to commemorate the making of the movie. There is widescreen and Dolby Surround, which surprised me. But even then, it doesn t enhance the "quality" of the movie. You can rent this movie if you want, or (even better) wait until it comes on T.V. and watch it for free; hey, if you don't like it, there's always the trusty remote control. I can be wrong about my review, few of you might like the movie, yet I doubt it. It isn't worth purchasing and is definitely one of the biggest flops Hollywood has ever produced. Every person in the history of the world - at highest tiers of society he or she can possibly reach - eventually comes to a point where life gives their career the notorious hatchet and they have to walk out into the sunset and take fate at hand. "Big Top" brought that dreadful proposition upon Pee-Wee Herman, at least Rubens took the failure as a mature man and didn't do anything boyishly irrational, well except for that wee little incident back in the early nineties with the adult theater But, what's done was done and at least he didn't turn mentally insane; well more insane than he is now. It's been a great time, Pee-Wee Herman, but now the curtains of fame and fortune have closed, you don't have a dime left to your name, you've lost all of your possessions due to foreclosures, and most of society won't miss you. Now it's time to grow up, lose the gray suit and bowtie, and start looking for a real job.

*Note: During the moments of this review when I used the name Pee-Wee, I was referring to the fictional character and not the actor, Paul Rubens. I have never, and will never, relate Rubens(or any other actors for that matter) with the characters he portrayed out of respect for the actor who made an awesome vampire in "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" and is still acting to this day.