Tim Burton (“Batman”, “Beetlejuice”) had his first big breakthrough with “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”. This was also the big breakthrough for comedian Paul Reubens and his Pee-Wee Herman character. It is a vibrantly coloured film done with a cheeky innocence.

Pee-Wee Herman (Reubens) is an over the top man-child, who lives amongst novelty items and other great toys and gizmos. One day, he has his pride and joy taken away when his bike has been stolen. Now, Pee-Wee will go to any lengths to get it back and near the end, we get a chase scene where Santa Claus and Godzilla are in the same shot.

With his obsessive and eccentric personality Pee-Wee would be a serial killer or mental patient in a more mature film but this is a children’s film so he’s the likeable protagonist. He’s so goofy, wimpy and obnoxious that you have to just laugh at him. Some of the characters he meets on his journey to find his bike aren’t amazing but do provide a few memorable moments. Large Marge is probably the most memorable one besides Pee-Wee. If anything, the problem is that there aren’t a few more of these people for him to meet. James Brolin (“The Amityville Horror”) is quite funny starring as a macho version of Pee-Wee near the end.

“Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” is such a strange and cheerful film that you have to admire it. Unlike Burton’s more recent work, which makes you feel depressed, this one makes you happy. After this, Burton went onto direct the best movie version of “Batman” to date and Reubens would use the Pee-Wee character in a children’s show so this film really allowed the two to go off and build upon what they did here. It’s a funny film that lacks a lot of clever jokes but it is sure to put a smile on the faces of children and grown-ups alike.