Pee-wee as Himselfuncovers the truth about one of the most recognizable and mysterious men in show business with radical honesty and emotion. Most people will be familiar with Pee-wee Herman, whether through his films, the children’s show, or the allegations tied to the man behind the bowtie, Paul Reubens. In the years immediately preceding his death, Reubens dropped the facade, at least in a small way, to try and get his side of the story out to the world in this incredible documentary directed by Matt Wolf.
The documentary is broken up into two parts, each totaling roughly 100 minutes. In each segment,Paul Reubens speaks directly to the camerain footage edited together from extensive interviews, spliced with videos, images, and official projects from his archive. Over the course of this expansive investigation, Reubens reveals the course of his life, from his earliest memories down to the final thoughts he had before passing away in 2023. It’s an extraordinary encapsulation of his life, with a clear emphasis on his most popular character — Pee-wee Herman.
Pee-wee Removes The Mask In His Final Appearance
For years, Paul Reubens worked hard to present the character of Pee-wee. His theatrical debut saw the character credited as playing himself, and all press and interviews were done by the character, not Reubens. However, Reubens breaks down the intriguing way that this created frustration and resentment in him, especially as the character began to gain traction, and Reubens was left behind as an unknown, faceless figure. Until, of course, his true identity was harshly forced into the light by allegations of public indecency and a charge of possessing child pornography.
It’s an extraordinary encapsulation of his life, with a clear emphasis on his most popular character, Pee-wee Herman.
But while Reubens evidently developed trust issues, watching how he engaged with the small filming crew for the documentary is absolutely fascinating. While Reubens remained playful and coy about revealing too much of himself, a trait that was honed throughout his life, the truth bubbled to the surface in every word and every interaction. Director Matt Wolf was firm with his subject, and despite what appears to be tense conversations about control, the finished product is an incredibly honest and refreshing look at a man transformed by Hollywood and his own creation.
The great tragedy of the piece is the fact that this docuseries was not completed until after his death. As a result, Reubens never got to see the response to his confessional and his efforts to clear his name. Overall, this is a stunning exploration of a man’s entire life, which is forced to narrow its focus due to time constraints, but it does so in a way that feels extensive and complete, depicting Reubens' beginning, middle, and ultimately his end.
The Strength Of Pee-wee As Himself Comes From Simplicity
While Reubens was a larger-than-life performer whose work was often colorful, weird, and wild,Pee-wee as Himselfis much more reserved in its approach. Of course, it includes footage of different moments from throughoutPee-wee’s history as a character, but for the bulk of the documentary, it’s simply examining the reality of Paul Reubens and who he is outside of being a character in a children’s TV show. This lends itself well to the serious nature of the allegations it addresses, calling on numerous former friends and colleagues of Reubens to help further flesh out the story.
The editing perfectly frames the story, while ensuring the color, noise, and wacky nature of the man are not absent from this presentation.
The documentary seeks to get to the truth of the man, and it does an excellent job of doing so. It’s clear, direct, and every moment is considered. Not a moment drags, as it all maintains its focus and moves forward with purpose. The inclusion of interviews with those closest to Reubens also helps to add authenticity and validity to the way his life is depicted.
Pee-wee as Himselfis a beautiful tributethat seeks to hone in on Reubens' complex private life, delivering insights far beyond anything he shared over his lengthy career. The editing perfectly frames the story, while ensuring the color, noise, and wacky nature of the man are not absent. And overall, it paints a picture of an artist whose life was full of highs, lows, and everything in between in the pursuit of success and fame.Pee-wee as Himselfachieved its goals and this tribute to his life is a stunning send-off for such an influential figure.
Pee-wee as Himself
Cast
Pee-wee as Himself is a biographical film released in 2025, presenting a two-part exploration of the imaginative life and artistry of the iconic performer Pee-wee Herman. The narrative offers a kaleidoscopic portrayal of his creative journey and unique contributions to entertainment.
