How Paul Myers knew Pee-wee's Big Adventure was 'a perfect comedy film'

11:34Remembering Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman

Actor and comedian Paul Reubens died of cancer this week at the age of 70.

With more than 100 credits to his name, Reubens was best known for his work as the iconic, energetic child-man Pee-wee Herman — a character that defined pop culture in the '80s and '90s.

Today on Commotion, guest host Amil Niazi spoke with Paul Myers, a music and comedy writer who also happens to be Mike Myers' brother, about the legacy Reubens leaves behind.

For the full discussion, listen and follow the Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud podcast, on your favourite podcast player.

"He seemed timeless," Myers said of the character Pee-wee Herman. "He didn't seem to have an age, which means subconsciously he will never die…. But Paul Reubens, as it turns out, is mortal."

Myers said Reubens will be remembered for the joy he shared with others, and how much of himself he poured into his most famous character.

"Pee-wee allowed Paul Reubens to just spit out all the pop culture stuff of his generation, and contextualize it and be subversive with it. He spread messages within that stuff," said Myers.

"Pee-wee was a brat, but Pee-wee was not nasty…. He was a nerd, but he was never a loser. He was always in charge."

WATCH | Pee-wee Herman in Pee-wee's Big Adventure:

'How do you make that movie?'

From writing a book and producing a documentary about The Kids in the Hall to writing a book about John Candy, Myers has recently spent a lot of time immersed in the world of comedy. With this knowledge, Myers said, has come a newfound appreciation for Reubens' film Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

"It's a perfect comedy script…. It's a perfect marriage of Tim Burton's wild imagination, but also Paul Reubens' wild imagination. The art direction, the sets, the set pieces are beautiful," he said. "I feel like it is a perfect film."

WATCH | Pee-wee makes breakfast in Pee-wee's Big Adventure:

And he's not alone in this regard. Myers said he can still recall how his younger brother, comedian and actor Mike Myers, revered the film.

"I had a very unique moment in my life where I was in Los Angeles when Mike was working on a film, and he brought Tim Burton over and they watched Pee-wee's Big Adventure together because Mike wanted to study it…. How do you make that movie?"

While he may not have noticed its brilliance the first time he saw it, Myers said he learned a lot that day just from seeing his brother Mike and director Burton gush over the film.

"Hearing these two professionals, my brother and Tim Burton, talk about what a perfect movie it is was like a masterclass for me. I'm learning all this comedy stuff and the technique behind it — and you don't see that when you're watching it in the movies. You just enjoy it.

"It was confirming for me that this was one of the greatest comedy films of all time."

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Paul Myers produced by Stuart Berman.