Pee-wee as Himself review: Paul Reubens documentary is a must-see for Playhouse fans

On its surface, Pee-wee as Himself is a loving two-part documentary looking at the life of the late Paul Reubens, the brilliant comic mind behind the iconic Pee-wee Herman. However, even from the film's opening moments, the battle is clear between subject and director. Reubens sits before a camera, looking straight down the lens, and speaking to his annoyance that his perspective may not be the dominant one in the finished product.

"It turns out you're not supposed to control your own documentary," he laments with clear frustration. He promises the unseen director that he will fight him on this point, adding, "You mark my words." The title card that comes up next plays like a punchline: A Film By Matt Wolf. 

As Reubens died in July of 2023, Wolf has the last laugh here. But the beloved yet co...