History Film / PeeweesBigAdventure

One day, Pee-wee's treasured bike is stolen by a rival man-child. Desperate to get it back, he embarks on a cross country journey, meeting many bizarre characters along the way (and considering the sort of guy Pee-wee Herman is, that's one ''hell'' of a mouthful).

Notable for launching the careers of TimBurton and DannyElfman (his film composer career, anyway), though Reubens was the real person in-charge. A lesser-known factoid is that much of the film's atmosphere is based on the 1982 no-budget cult film ''Film/ForbiddenZone'': Burton and Reubens were both huge fans of the film, and their decision to hire DannyElfman was based on his work with the ''Forbidden Zone'' group. The movie was written by Reubens and the late great [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Phil]] [[Series/SaturdayNightLive Hartman]].

Notable for launching the careers of TimBurton and DannyElfman (his film composer career, anyway), though Reubens was the real person in-charge. A lesser-known factoid is that much of the film's atmosphere is based on the 1982 no-budget cult film ''Film/ForbiddenZone'': Burton and Reubens were both huge fans of the film, and their decision to hire DannyElfman was based on his work with the ''Forbidden Zone'' group. The movie was written by Reubens and the late great [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Phil]] [[WesternAnimation/SaturdayNightLive Hartman]].

Notable for launching the careers of TimBurton and DannyElfman (his film composer career, anyway), though Reubens was the real person in-charge. A lesser-known factoid is that much of the film's atmosphere is based on the 1982 no-budget cult film ''Film/ForbiddenZone'': Burton and Reubens were both huge fans of the film, and their decision to hire DannyElfman was based on his work with the ''Forbidden Zone'' group. The movie was written by Reubens and the late great [[TheSimpsons Phil]] [[SaturdayNightLive Hartman]].

** Co-writer PhilHartman is a reporter at the drive in theater.

* LemmingCops: The security guards at WarnerBrothers, who take chase (and crash rather impressively), rather than just cutting off all the studio exits.

* AdultChild: Pee-wee of course, as well as Francis.

* OhCrap: Accident or not, Pee-wee knows that knocking over the [[BadassBiker badass bikers]] Harleys is forfeiting his life.

* ShoutOut: Large Marge is an homage to the classic ghost story of Big Joe. Unlike Marge, Joe is a friendly fella who doesn't try to scare his passengers and even gives them money to eat at the diner where he drops them off.

-->-Pee-wee, describing himself

Notable for launching the careers of TimBurton and DannyElfman (his film composer career, anyway), though Reubens was the real person in-charge. A lesser-known factoid is that much of the film's atmosphere is based on the 1982 no-budget cult film ''{{Film/Forbidden Zone}}'': Burton and Reubens were both huge fans of the film, and their decision to hire DannyElfman was based on his work with the ''Forbidden Zone'' group. The movie was written by Reubens and the late great [[TheSimpsons Phil]] [[SaturdayNightLive Hartman]].

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Yes, MrT breakfast cereal [[http://www.mrbreakfast.com/cereal_detail.asp?id=244 actually existed]].

* CreatorCameo:

-->'''Mario:''' [Mario pulls out a red boomerang bow-tie]
* HeyItsThatGuy:

* InformedLoner: A running gag has people who try to ditch someone claim to be "a loner, a rebel..." Pee-wee says it to worm out of a date with Dottie, which is mirrored in the FilmWithinAFilm. Mickey also ditches Pee-wee with the same words in an IronicEcho.

* NightmareFace:

* TheCameo:

* WorkOffTheDebt: Pee-wee washes dishes for his meal at a diner after discovering that he left his wallet at Madam Ruby's.

[[caption-width:196:''BetterThanItSounds: TheMovie'']]

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Yes, [=~Mr. T~=] breakfast cereal [[http://www.mrbreakfast.com/cereal_detail.asp?id=244 actually existed]].

* [=~Chekhov's Armoury~=]: The magic shop. The only item to not see use in the movie was the Boomerang Bowtie (it's a DeletedScene).

* [=~Hey, It's That Guy!~=]:
** Francis' butler is played by [[ProfessionalWrestling "Professor" Toru Tanaka]] (aka [[TheRunningMan Sub Zero]]).

* InformedLoner: Pee-wee isn't interested in getting serious with "girlfriend" Dottie, claiming that he's [[BlatantLies "...a loner, a rebel..."]]
** Later, when he makes friends with an escaped convict, [[IronicEcho the man brushes Pee-Wee off the same way]].
--->Deja vu...
** The actor playing P.W. in the movie said the same thing.
* InnocentInnuendo: Simone, the GreasySpoon waitress, is overheard by her boyfriend talking to Pee-wee, and he assumes something else.
** "Everyone I know has a big 'but' ''[read: excuse for not following their dream]'' Come on, Simone, let's talk about your big 'but.'"

* KavorkaMan: While not a supermodel by any stretch, Dottie is still cute enough, and is quite forthcoming with her attraction to Pee-wee. Oddly enough, Pee-wee turns her down repeatedly.
** Not so odd when you consider it fits in with his AdultChild / ManChild persona.

* NightmareFace: Large Marge
** Not to mention that damned clown...

* OhCrap: Accident or not, Pee-wee knows that knocking over the [[BadassBiker badass bikers]] Harley's is forfeiting his life.
** He did started to cry, knowing what's about to happen.
-->'''Pee-Wee:''' I barely touched them!

* RulesOfTheRoad: Pee-wee passes an increasingly absurd number of signs while driving at night.

* SurvivorsGuilt: During the scene when Pee-wee is wheeled out of the bike shop on a gurney, actress Elizabeth Daily's face went completely white. After filming the scene, Reubens asked her what was wrong and she replied to him that the scene had brought back painful memories of seeing her then-boyfriend, Jon-Erik Hexum, being wheeled off of a movie set on a gurney. (Hexum accidentally shot himself while on the set of the short-lived {{CBS}} series ''Cover Up'' and died six days later.)
* TheCameo: TwistedSister is recording a music video during Pee-wee's chase across the backlots.
** And Milton Berle tells the punchline to a joke.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: This was originally pitched as a remake to ''{{Pollyanna}}'' (which is Paul Reubens' favorite film).
** The indirect sequel ''BigTopPeeWee'' has a bit more ''Pollyanna'' influence.

* WorkOffTheDebt: Pee-wee's wallet turns up missing (because he stupidly left it at Madam Ruby's), and he doesn't realize until paying for his meal at a diner.

* [=~Hey, It's That Guy!~=]: Francis' butler is played by [[ProfessionalWrestling "Professor" Toru Tanaka]] (aka [[TheRunningMan Sub Zero]]).

* CreatorCameo: Tim Burton is a thug in the alley way.

* BadBadActing: In the ShowWithinAShow that ends the film, Pee-Wee mouths the actor's lines along with him and keeps [[AsideGlance glancing at the camera]].

* CoolBike: The driving force of the whole movie is Pee-Wee's quest to find his. The bike itself has rocket boosters, can unleash an OilSlick, and has spare handlebars pop out if one gets pulled off. Pee-Wee's about to add a truck horn when the bike gets stolen.

** Co-writer Phil Heartman is a reporter at the drive in theater.

* CoolBike: The driving force of the whole movie is Pee-Wee's quest to find his. The bike itself has rocket boosters, can unleash an OilSlick, and has spare handlebars pop out if one gets pulled off.

* CoolBike: The driving force of the whole movie is Pee-Wee's quest to find his.

''There's a lotta things about me you don't know anything about, Dottie. Things you wouldn't understand. Things you couldn't understand. Things you shouldn't understand.''

-Pee-wee, describing himself

One day, Pee-wee's treasured bike is stolen by a rival man-child. Desperate to get it back, he embarks on a cross country journey, meeting many bizarre characters along the way.

* SantaClaus: Santa Claus and Godzilla.