‘Pee-wee as Himself’ Review: Paul Reubens Explores Pee-wee Herman, and His Own Identity, in Revealing HBO Doc

by

Born in 1938, nestled by the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, I spent my early days in a humble abode. My father plied his trade on a steamboat,” Paul Reubens shares with Matt Wolf, the director of the captivating two-part HBO documentary series, Pee-wee’s Journey to Self.

I myself hail from the town of Peekskill, New York, born in 1952. Contrary to some assumptions, my father wasn’t employed on a steamship. While he was indeed a founding member of the Israeli Air Force, his professional life didn’t involve steamboats.

The humor displayed by Reubens early on in the documentary serves as a key indicator of two crucial aspects that define the character depicted in “Pee-wee as Himself“, offering both entertainment, insight, and a delightful sense of perplexity about this intriguing artist.

Initially, it’s worth noting that Paul Reubens, who passed away in 2023, had spent decades crafting his own persona. With numerous talk show appearances and personal roles portraying his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, it became challenging to distinguish the man from the squeaky-voiced, suit-wearing, childlike character. The enjoyment of Pee-wee as Himself lies in discerning Reubens as an individual, yet the notion that “Paul Reubens” in this series could be equally contrived as Pee-wee Herman lingers. Thus, Wolf faces the challenging task of peeling away layers of Reubens/Pee-wee personas to discover the genuine Reubens, the authentic foundation of Pee-wee Herman. (The study and interpretation of Paul Reubens could be referred to jokingly as “Hermaneutics,” a term that will bring amusement to just a handful of people.)

However, Reubens recorded approximately 40 hours of interviews with Wolf, and the portrayal in “Pee-wee as Himself” is characterized by persistent struggles. Initially, Reubens aimed to create a documentary about himself, but was dissuaded by Wolf, friends, and family, and at the time of filming, he had not yet found resolution regarding this decision.

Reubens acknowledges that he shouldn’t be the one controlling his own documentary,” he admitted before passing away in 2023. “He lacked a proper viewpoint of himself,” he added.

Fitting words from a man whose most famous catchphrase ended with, “But what am I?”

In the documentary, Paul Reubens is frequently seen deviating from his character (originally “Paul Reubens,” now referred to as “Paul Reubens?”), alleging that Wolf is attempting to guide him and manipulate their conversations to specific endpoints. These altercations usually have a playful tone, suggesting another role being acted out.

Or:

In the documentary, Paul Reubens often breaks character (previously known as “Paul Reubens,” now referred to as “Paul Reubens?”), claiming that Wolf is trying to control their interactions and steer them towards pre-decided outcomes. These disagreements typically have a lighthearted tone, hinting at another persona being portrayed.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, this doc about Reubens is something fresh and unseen. It sheds light on aspects of his career that are downright funny one moment, heart-wrenching the next, making “Pee-wee as Himself” an absolute must-watch for all generations who grew up with Pee-wee’s influence, shaping our humor and imagination in countless ways.

It’s worth noting that over the course of five decades, Reubens amassed an impressive collection – from more than a thousand hours of personal videos to tens of thousands of photographs dating back to his early childhood. This treasure trove significantly enriches the documentary, much like the compelling tales he shared.

In my perspective, Pee-wee Herman’s portrayal as a timeless emblem of pop culture’s Neverland persona intrigued me more. Despite the minor difference in runtime – 99 minutes for the first part and 101 minutes for the second – both films seemed to fly by. The narrative of unchecked development was particularly fascinating.

It’s one thing to listen about Reuben’s early fascination with circuses, his journey from community theater in Florida to avant-garde, and eventually improv comedy. However, witnessing footage of the young, gracefully androgynous Reubens shaping several of these identities, playing around with characters, and exploring his sexuality prior to Pee-wee Herman’s conception, makes for a completely different experience.

The charm and adaptability found in those home videos, Groundlings clips, and early TV appearances such as The Gong Show, hint at a potential chameleon-like career for Reubens that one can’t help but wish had fully materialized. If Pee-wee Herman had been the character he portrayed, it’s conceivable he could have won Oscars or become a global cult icon. In essence, he achieved that status anyway.

The home videos, comedy sketches, and early TV appearances show that Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) had the talent to become a big star or even win Oscars. However, due to circumstances, this potential wasn’t fully realized, but he still became well-known and appreciated as Pee-wee Herman.

In recent interviews with Reubens, there’s a palpable sense of regret and uncertainty about certain decisions he made, such as going back into the closet after openly living much of his 20s and having brief romantic encounters – all in favor of maintaining the Pee-wee Herman persona over being authentic as Paul Reubens. His candid reflections on his sexuality and personal life, which are usually shrouded in mystery, seem to be the deepest themes that Wolf chose to delve into, and it’s these moments that Reubens seemed most hesitant to share. This makes for engaging discussions.

In the initial installment, Reubens’ narrative and introspections take center stage, while his sister Abby, albeit present, is not explicitly identified as such throughout the four-hour duration (an unexpected absence considering their relationship). Additionally, there are appearances by friends from his childhood, college, and the Groundlings. This episode chronicles “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” featuring engaging and harmonious discussions with fellow eccentric director Tim Burton.

The second installment delves back into the world of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” featuring several of its primary contributors such as Laurence Fishburne, Lynne Marie Stewart, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Natasha Lyonne. Paul Reubens openly discusses and perhaps expresses remorse for some of his dominating actions on the show and its eventual downfall, while also reflecting on certain decisions made during “Big Top Pee-wee.

In the later, challenging parts of Paul Reubens’ life, the documentary Pee-wee as Himself requires a bit more effort to fully understand. At the start of the film, Reubens expresses his wish to clarify certain aspects, but various factors limit his ability to do so effectively throughout the movie. Although the documentary doesn’t shy away from discussing Reubens’ two arrests and their impact on his public image, many details about these incidents are shared by others, making the narrative less revealing. Friends like David Arquette and Debi Mazar, along with his publicist and lawyer, share their viewpoints, while Reubens himself provides fewer personal insights.

Through genuine engagement with his subject and maintaining an authentic tone in their conversations, Wolf has produced a documentary that rivals HBO’s series of documentaries on “Difficult Funny Men” such as Garry Shandling and George Carlin. As demonstrated here, Reubens was complex, both challenging and endearing, childish yet introspective, genius and imperfect. I suspect another documentary could have been created portraying him as a completely different person, which only deepens the intrigue.

Read More

2025-01-24 10:29