Review of Big Top Pee-wee (1988) by Johnny T — 26 Dec 2014

As in cooking, there are times when you tinker with the recipe too much and the end result is less than satisfying. Very little of this is interesting or amusing on paper, which must have been a real challenge to director Randal Kleiser, who ably keeps all the surrounding players in tune to whatever it is that Herman's up to at any given moment. The script is encumbered by unnecessary exposition, the pace is plodding, the supporting characters are weak, the production values are sub-par, and the special effects are horrid (as evidenced by any scene with Midge). But the biggest mistake the production team made was taking Pee-Wee out of his beautifully twisted little universe and dropping him into a bland, angry, depression-era world with no memory of his family, friends, and the life he used to live. Big Top Pee-Wee is a failed experiment to push the boundaries and evolve this beloved character. I can recommend a rental, but this isn't a film you'll find yourself watching multiple times. It's too bad that Tim Burton went on to bigger and better things. Perhaps the absence of Tim Burton and the energy generated between the two quirky geniuses was more disheartening than anyone realized. Whatever the reason, the film falls disappointingly flat.

VERDICT: "Not So Hot" - [Negative Reaction] These films are truly terrible films. They are not the worst things ever made, but they are definitely awful and should not be seen by anyone. (Films that are rated 1.5 or 2 stars).