Review of Big Top Pee-wee (1988) by Stephanie H — 07 Jan 2009

Tim Burton's absence proves fatal to Big Top Pee-Wee in so many ways. Paul Reubens is still entertaining as Pee-Wee but there's a serious lack of style, irony and fun, all of which were prominent in the original 1986 film.

Even Danny Elfman's score suffers and gets bogged down into circus chaos. Big Top has its inventive surreal moments here and there though and Pee-Wee is always a good sport, just don't expect a Big Adventure.