Pee Wee Herman's Big Holiday Coming From Netflix
With Penny, Pepper and Freckles.
It seems like every website in the Western hemisphere and a lot besides are regurgitating Netflix's new press release about their original movie Pee-Wee's Big Holiday. Not only is it not news that the film will be a Netflix premiere - that dates back to 2014 - it's not even news that Wonder Showzen's John Lee will be directing. All credit to Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 for reporting these facts and many more besides over a month ago. It's the extra info that's really worth repeating. As well as Pee-Wee Herman, who will of course be played by Paul Rubens as he has been for the last 34 years, there are several other key characters in the film. The ones we know about all seem to be female. There's Pepper and Freckles, "pretty" and "tough" girls of around 30 who seem to be bank robbers; they sound like excellent roles for the next generation Jessica Chastain or Naomi Watts. And there's Penny - why all these coppery names? - who is described as being a "Katharine Hepburn-type heiress." Add her to the robbers and it sound like Pee-Wee might be getting caught up in some kind of Christmas-time heist or kidnapping. The only other male role we know about so far is Grizzly Bear, who sound big and hairy. He's a "mountain man," presumably in the mold of Grizzly Adams. All of these supporting characters are good and well, but a Pee-Wee film is really about Pee-Wee himself and giving him the best things to do. Here's hoping there's something at least a half as good as the Tequila bar dance in Tim Burton's Big Adventure. Expect to see Pee-Wee's Big Adventure pop up on Netflix around Thanksgiving.