On B List of Movie Reviews

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Big Top Pee-wee (1988)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 10/25

BigTop
10/25: Big Top Pee-wee is a simple, harmless cult film.

I prefer this one over the original because it's less annoying and goofy. The plot is straightforward. Obviously, it's inspired by The Greatest Show on Earth. Kris Kristofferson exemplifies this in a big way by copying Charlton Heston's getup.

Making her screen debut, Valeria Golino is a good pick for being easy on the eyes. Doing the same is Benicio del Toro as the Dog-Faced Boy. Who knew he would be an Oscar winner one day? When the old people turned into kids, one of them is Dustin Diamond of Saved by the Bell fame.

Paul Reubens is better by being more comfortable with his role. Last time, he had that terrible laugh, and it's wisely cut out here. For some reason, I thought Lawrence Fishburne would appear in this, but it's actually Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse.

All in all, The Greatest Show on Earth is overblown while Big Top Pee-wee is just right.