Paul Reubens resurrects his elfin creation Pee-wee Herman after a 28-year absence, but comedic lightning generally fails to strike again, mostly due to Reubens' curious lethargy as both co-writer and star, as well as a bloated production that turns Pee-wee's world into a '50s comic book fantasy (a safe, sterile one right out of "The Archies"). Joe Manganiello plays himself as a hunky yet sensitive actor who meets Pee-wee at a diner where Pee-wee works as a short-order cook (!). They bond over root beer candy (!), and Manganiello helps Herman forget his recent troubles--seems Pee-wee's music group has broken up. Pee-wee sings? Eventually, but there's nothing much else interesting in the journey our hero takes to New York City after his brotherly soul-mate invites the overgrown child to his star-studded birthday party. Many talented people were involved in this Netflix production, but most of the comedy support just stands around with nothing clever to say. It's such a vacuous film with wobbly dialogue that when Pee-wee does rattle off a funny retort, it takes a few seconds to get the joke. Reubens puts on the retro gray suit and familiar red bow tie, he has the haircut and makeup down right, yet he struggles to find Pee-wee's self-amused voice; this is an older Pee-wee who's been stung by life's disappointments. Instead of the cartoony outsider welcomed into the real world, Pee-wee Herman has, ultimately, become one of us. ** from ****
Review of Pee-wee's Big Holiday
