Watched parts 1/2 and 2/2 the past couple of nights. A little surprised there wasn't more of an active discussion on this on the gaf OT, but then I guess a lot of you guys might be on the younger end of the spectrum, sooooooo.
When I was 10yo, my Mom used to hang out with her frenemy once in awhile and I'd be informed that I would be going to see some movie with the friend's kid while they got lunch or whatever. The kid was pretty obnoxious so I was never terribly keen on it; when she told me I'd be going to watch something called Pee Wee's Big Adventure, my eyes rolled pretty hard "what do you think I am, like 6yo? This some Howdy Doody shit for real?" Anyway I didn't have much say, so got dragged out and plunked into the seat and crossed my arms "well, might as well wait for this shit to get over with.." Anyway the film started and I would say within about the first 30 seconds, my mind was turned completely around on the matter - I just knew this movie was going to be incredible and it absolutely followed through. So good.
A year later, Pee Wee's Playhouse suddenly showed up on Saturday morning and.. what fresh madness was this? We all knew Pee Wee by now, but this was even more unhinged. As a super-dorky, sheltered pre-teen kid, I was already feeling kinda out in left-field and unappreciated by those around me. I immediately glommed onto this. Pee Wee and his world were absolutely insane and I completely loved how nonsensical and audacious it was. Just lots of these crazy characters, the craftsmanship of the show was breathtaking, and the constant yelling and screaming for no good reason. It was all suddenly very important. Pee Wee could do no wrong, even if you couldn't stand him there was still so much to love.
And of course the years wore on - there were the scandals, and like so many big personalities in those days, he had his rise, fall, reappearance, and then it was just something you didn't really think of one way or the other anymore as it sort of faded on the background of the zeitgeist while other "latest weird things" moved into the fore.
Anyway that's my story. Pee Wee had a latest resurgence about 10 years ago, but at that point I knew I wasn't going to bother checking out what he was up to unless there was some huge hubbub about it (it's been pretty common for the stuff from our youth to reappear "remember this?" and it always falls short of how it sits in your memory). Anyway then a couple of years ago he passed and that was unexpected, and upsetting.
So it was with a little apprehension when I heard that this doc was releasing, that I knew I might check it out. I guess I finally decided to give it a look, not sure what to expect. It... FOR SURE was not what I expected. I guess I am still marinating on it right now. It's definitely a bit of a fascinating story, for those of you who are interested in the behind-the-scenes of this character and how it all happened. I'll just say there is clearly a LOT missing from this doc, no doubt because he passed while it was still in production, but in fact I think because it went the way that it did, ended up making it more profound. And honestly if he was still here today, RIP, I think I can safely say the film would still not yet be in release (easy enough to understand once you've watched it). And should you watch it? If your history with the Pee Man is anything like what I wrote int he early paragraphs of this increasingly long rant, then I think you can expect to find some really interesting bits in here. A Very much an interesting story, although as it gets on to the second half, it does get a good bit dark and unsettling - and the whole thing does end on a pretty dour note, which might leave you having to sit with some funky feelings for awhile following it. Anyway, if you were there, it's recommended. If this came after your time, or you have no fascination with the funkier/seedier side of show business from the 70s/80s, this might not be of much interest to you.