Pee-wee as Himself

Directed by Matt Wolf, Pee-wee as Himself explores the life and times of Paul Reubens – with a particular (and obvious) emphasis on his decades-spanning run as the iconic Pee-wee Herman. It’s engrossing subject matter that is, for the most part, employed to persistently watchable and compelling effect by Wolf, as the filmmaker delivers a briskly-paced endeavor that benefits from its ongoing emphasis on Reubens interview footage – with the often spellbinding nature of these sequences, coupled with the periodic inclusion of appealing arguments between Wolf and his playful subject, paving the way for a midsection rife with enthralling, eye-opening anecdotes and tidbits. There’s little doubt, then, that the absence of Reubens within a second half devoted to his controversies impacts Pee-wee as Himself‘s overall impact (ie his presence is woefully missed), although it’s equally clear that the strong closing stretch, which does boast a fairly pronounced emotional kick, ensures that the whole thing concludes on an exceedingly positive note – thus confirming the picture’s place as a definitive documentary on a seriously fascinating figure.

***1/2 out of ****