Back in January, a scant trailer promoting the release of Pee-wee’s Big Holiday left us with little information about what the plot of the movie actually was, other than the fact that Pee-wee seemed to have no idea about the outer workings of the world. Now, a proper trailer has revealed that, indeed, he has no idea about the outer workings of the world.
As a resident of Fairville (sports memorabilia for the Fairville Settlers in the background of the set design of his room gives one some indication of just the sort of population the town has to offer), Pee-wee never leaves, finding himself contented to do the same things and go to the same places every day. Already, we sense a profound theme coming on.
Directed by John Lee, who has the undercuttingly perverse sense of humor suited to Paul Reubens as per his work on Wonder Showzen, the third addition to the Pee-wee film canon is also being produced by Judd Apatow, which might be a good or bad thing depending on your level of purism. Co-written with newcomer Paul Rust (who Reubens may have enlisted for a “fresh perspective” on humor), the story is based on the premise of Pee-wee’s world being turned upside down when he encounters a wayward traveler, played by none other than Joe Manganiello, who encourages him to take a holiday by insisting, “You got a choice to make: stick around here or live a little.”
Pee-wee, of course, opts for the latter. The trailer gets interesting when he encounters an ominous girl gang that seems like a modern update to the biker gang he tangoes with, so to speak, in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Though, whether or not this film is at all connected to the others is unclear–though Big Top Pee-wee was also a stand-alone post-Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. And, by the way, what a dick move on both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s parts to refuse collaborating with Reubens on the project. If it turns out terribly, perhaps we can scapegoat them. “A-list” bastards.
