The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981)

A filmed version of Paul Reubens's stage show from 1981, this early HBO special introduced the character of eternal man-child Pee-wee Herman to the world at large. Taking place in an imaginative playhouse set, it features a twisted and surreal parody of '50s children's TV shows (e.g. Howdy Doody) with a bit of a punk rock edge. Captain Carl (Phil Hartman), Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart) and Jambi the Genie (John Paragon) are all in tow. It's a bit darker, rough around the edges and more adult in tone than than the Pee-wee's Playhouse program that would develop later, but it's still a great showcase for wild and bizarre humor featuring puppets and humans alike.

4 luckiest boys in the world out of 5

Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)

This film takes a bit of a different tack as Cheech & Chong seek to distance themselves from their stoner persona and prove themselves as comedic actors capable of further range. It's a fairly straight parody take on Alexandre Dumas's The Corsican Brothers, about Siamese twins who are able to feel each other's pain (and pleasure), and that's where the bulk of the humor lies. Even though it's free of their trademark drug humor, it seems like the kind of thing that only be appreciated when you're high. At times, it feels like a series of gags ripped from classic slapstick comedies. And I say that as the only thing that saves it from getting a lower score. This is pretty bad. It performed so poorly at the box office, it spelled the end of C&C's big screen adventures.

1½ Fuckaires out of 5

Note: This harkens back to the age where the movie posters heavily suggest it to be much better than it is. I don't remember that scene happening at all.

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)

The continuing adventures of Cheech & Chong (now going under their own pseudonym) as they get into trouble and meet strange characters across L.A. As a comedy feature, it's wildly uneven, but you have to admire its audacity for going weird places and risking losing the plot. Notable for featuring some early roles from Michael Winslow and Paul Reubens (as Pee-wee Herman).

2½ literal roaches out of 5

Note: There is a long lost television edit of this film which features a new storyline and so much alternate footage that it's almost an entirely different movie. It removes all references to drugs and now refers to "diamonds" in an effort to make it "family" friendly. It also somehow manages to make less sense than the theatrical cut, so it gets half a roach less.