You know what we haven't discussed yet? How totally delightful Joe Manganiello is in Pee Wee's Big Holiday (2016). The new film, Pee Wee Herman's first movie since 1988 (!) has been been streaming for a couple of weeks but it's a great fit for April Fool's Day because it feels so impossible that it happened at all.
Because Pee Wee is Pee Wee and his work has always been skillfully aimed at both adults and children with equal panache, it's often filled with hilarious sexual innuendo that sails over the head of tiny tots but is playful enough not to spoil the exuberant innocence of the comedy for adults who are in on the jokes. Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse, the beloved series that ran for five seasons in the late 80s and early 90s was no stranger to the occasional hunky visitor but for the new film the hunky visitor graduates to full co-star level, courtesy of a very game and funny Joe Manganiello playing "Joe Manganiello". [A few spoilers ahead...]
Pee Wee has to keep upgrading him in their first scene together "cool"... "double cool"... "triple cool". Joe falls for Pee Wee, too, once he tastes his milkshake (ha!). Later Pee Wee dreams about jousting with Joe. Fireworks!
The plot springs from Joe's big birthday bash in Manhattan that he invites Pee Wee to prompting a cross country trip and eventually a big musical number as Pee Wee Takes Manhattan. In the middle of Pee Wee's sightseeing song, we check in with Joe in his swanky Central Park apartment. He's just as excited about their upcoming reunion, and sings in the shower.
🎵 I'm in the shower
Getting clean
Happy Birthday, Joe ! 🎵
[face-in-water noises but it rhymes]
But Pee Wee falls into a manhole (...) outside of Joe's apartment and sad Joe thinks Pee Wee has ditched him. Will they ever be reunited?
I don't think it's a stretch to name this one of the best Gay Romantic Comedies ever, even if there isn't too much competition. The only disappointment in the sweet ending when Joe and Pee Wee ride off together on Joe's motorcycle is that they don't ride off into a sunset; it's broad daylight when the credits roll.