Big Top Pee-wee

1988
PG
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

5.1/10

10K

YOUR RATING

Pee-wee Herman is now a small-town farmer with a fiancée, but when a traveling circus comes to town, he finds himself falling for the trapeze artist.

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Adventure Comedy Romance

Pee-wee Herman is now a small-town farmer with a fiancée, but when a traveling circus comes to town, he finds himself falling for the trapeze artist.Pee-wee Herman is now a small-town farmer with a fiancée, but when a traveling circus comes to town, he finds himself falling for the trapeze artist.Pee-wee Herman is now a small-town farmer with a fiancée, but when a traveling circus comes to town, he finds himself falling for the trapeze artist.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.1/10

10K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Goofs
When PeeWee and Winnie are eating lunch, some of Winnie's egg salad sandwich falls on PeeWee's face and jacket. He wipes his face on her dress, but in the next shot it's not on her dress or his jacket.

Quotes
Pee-wee: [shouts impatiently] All I wanted was a measly sandwich! I very nicely explained that I was starving. I'm starving! PLEASE!
Mr. Ryan: [defeatedly] Sorry, ladies. I guess you'll just have to wait. You remember, no one is as important in this community as Pee-wee Herman. All you other shoppers will just have to play second fiddle to Pee-wee. I guess that's just the way things are around here. My whole purpose in life is to serve Pee-wee Herman. And everything else comes second!
[finishes Pee-wee's sandwich]
Mr. Ryan: There's your sandwich. Is there anything else I can do for you, Pee-wee?
Pee-wee: Well, I would like a pickle if it's not too much trouble.
Mr. Ryan: No! No trouble at all, Pee-wee. Sorry, Otis. Sorry, Deke.
[opens a barrel, knocking over Otis and Deke's chess board; extracts a pickle and hands it to Pee-wee]
Mr. Ryan: Game's over. Pee-wee Herman wants a pickle. Here. Here's your darned pickle. Are you happy now?
Pee-wee: Mmm-hmm.

Crazy credits
After the credits, a short cartoon plays featuring snacks singing about getting refreshments at the theater lobby.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Dead Pool/Phantasm II/Midnight Run/Boyfriends and Girlfriends/Die Hard (1988)

Soundtracks
Barnyard Circus Parade
Written by Danny Elfman

User reviews59

Review

Featured review

6/10

Underrated sequel deserves a second chance from fans

Sequel falls short largely because of stasis -- even though its's a circus theme, the writers/producers kept ALL the action on Pee Wee's farm, unlike the original which was a road trip film. Like the original, many bizarre touches are present and Reuben's portrayal is amusing. Here he's a bit more seedy, including a very funny hair fetish. The romance is unbelievable, though, because unlike the original, here Pee Wee is coupled with two supermodel class ladies. Fine direction, decent acting, lots of freaks. Kristofferson is funny as the perpetual man who knows where everybody should go (he plays that one a lot) in this case with a midget wife who's very very small. Pleasing otherworldly atmosphere enhanced by the circus theme -- if only the producers had sprung for a TRAVELLING circus! Still, this one didn't deserve the acid reviews and fan neglect it received on initial release, and should be given a fair look by fans of Reubens' neo-vaudeville comedy.