BIG TOP PEEWEE

US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Paul Reubens, Penelope Ann Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Susan Tyrell, Benicio del Toro.
Directed by Randall Kleiser.

Big Top Peewee is a brief comedy, featuring Paul Reubens as his eccentric, prissy character, Peewee Herman. (Reubens also co-wrote and co-produced the film.) While in Peewee's Big Adventure, Peewee was prissy, childish? Or childlike? He went on a tough journey to find his bicycle and met a zany group of characters who turned up all over the countryside in a blend of fantasy and reality. He sent up his hero as well as Hollywood movies. And, of course, this became cult enjoyment.

Then, with TV shows and guest appearances in films like Back to the Beach, Peewee made this second comedy. He does send himself up and he is still prissy. However, it's much of a glorification of Peewee and proves that he is a charmer by his having two romantic leading ladies, including Valeria Golina of Rainman. Fans will enjoy his comic antics - but he is busy, with the help of genial circus owner Kris Kristofferson, trying to soften his image and to endear himself to everyone. Direction is by Randal Kleiser (Grease, Blue Lagoon, Getting it Right).

1.Enjoyable comedy? Small American town? Circus? Peewee Herman, his personality and character?

2.Paul Reubens' character of Peewee Herman, cult figure, his hair and make-up, his suit and style of clothes? His manner, his Woody Woodpecker laugh? Reubens co-writing and co-producing the film? The glorification of Peewee - and a humanising (even softening) of his character?

3.The title, the focus on Peewee, the focus on the circus?

4.The opening with Peewee crooning like Frank Sinatra, the fans all cheering, his trying to escape the theatre like Abraham Lincoln, his flying away - and then waking up?

5.Peewee and the ordinary day: waking up, the pig in the bedroom, the pig and its conversation with Peewee? Its character? Dressing in his suit, going out to get the animals literally out of bed? Singing `Old Peewee Herman
Had a Farm'...? The carrots? The milking? Making the food for the animals? The greenhouse and its security - even for the pig's trotter? His agricultural studies, the flowers in bloom? His racing the pig, life on the farm?

6.Winnie, the lunch with her, not liking her sandwiches and throwing them away? Kissing her, her punching him back? The kids and their being like paparazzi with their cameras? Their mud wrestling? Winnie not being able to recognise the clouds? Her hair being electric?

7.Peewee in the shop, the pig, running around, Mr Ryan and his criticisms, the ladies and their disdain? The sandwich? The building up of the storm, his not getting a lift, going into his shelter with the animals, dancing with the animals?

8.Coming out and finding the circus, Kris Kristofferson as Mace Montana and his genial and friendly style? The meeting with Gina and her attractiveness? Her brothers? The lion in the house seeing him as a steak, charming the lion? Meeting Midge and her being a fairy and small? Her tough and genial style? The parade into town, the town being unwelcome? His inviting the circus troupe to his house for a vacation, their taking over the house, the farm? Meeting Gina again and fainting? The hippo chasing the pig? Trying out various stunts - tightrope walking and falling, the human cannon, the elephant ride?

9.The town and its bigotry, Winnie doing their shopping for them? Going away with Gina, her hair not electric, the kiss, her recognising the clouds? The long tracking shot with the waterfall and the orchestration?

10.Mace's brainwave about the circus, the American farm? The various acts, sideshows? Mace and his advice, love? Following through, breaking with Winnie and her delight, her teaming up with the brothers, the acrobatics and her place in the circus? The reconciliation with Gina?

11.The circus, the people in the town and their fussiness, his formula and reducing them to children, their going to the circus and enjoying it? The finale with the circus?

12.Peewee, his character, endearing, comic? Loved by Winnie and Gina? Kris Kristofferson and the circus people? The happy ending? The contribution to the cult of Peewee Herman?