David Bianculli

Director Matt Wolfe interviews other people as well, such as Lorraine Newman, who worked with Rubens in the L.A. improv group The Groundlings, and directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow, and several actors who appeared in the long-running CBS children's series Pee-Wee's Playhouse, including Lawrence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, and Esa-Petha Merkerson.

Director Matt Wolfe interviews other people as well, such as Lorraine Newman, who worked with Rubens in the L.A. improv group The Groundlings, and directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow, and several actors who appeared in the long-running CBS children's series Pee-Wee's Playhouse, including Lawrence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, and Esa-Petha Merkerson.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

The Road to Pee-Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee-Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid.

The Road to Pee-Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee-Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid.

The Road to Pee-Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee-Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid.

And, noting the meteoric rise of Pee Wee, from an improv bit at the Groundlings to the star of his own stage show, movie, and TV series, his view of the effects of stardom on his own carefully cultivated privacy...

And, noting the meteoric rise of Pee Wee, from an improv bit at the Groundlings to the star of his own stage show, movie, and TV series, his view of the effects of stardom on his own carefully cultivated privacy...

And, noting the meteoric rise of Pee Wee, from an improv bit at the Groundlings to the star of his own stage show, movie, and TV series, his view of the effects of stardom on his own carefully cultivated privacy...

All of that imploded in 1991 after an event reported by CBS anchor Dan Rather.

All of that imploded in 1991 after an event reported by CBS anchor Dan Rather.

All of that imploded in 1991 after an event reported by CBS anchor Dan Rather.

Paul Rubens addresses all of this frankly, taking great pains to explain his point of view. Yet that's not the most compelling or illuminating part of this documentary. The part that reveals the most, especially about Paul Rubens as an artist and a person, is his constant tug-of-war with the documentary's director, Matt Wolfe.

Paul Rubens addresses all of this frankly, taking great pains to explain his point of view. Yet that's not the most compelling or illuminating part of this documentary. The part that reveals the most, especially about Paul Rubens as an artist and a person, is his constant tug-of-war with the documentary's director, Matt Wolfe.

Paul Rubens addresses all of this frankly, taking great pains to explain his point of view. Yet that's not the most compelling or illuminating part of this documentary. The part that reveals the most, especially about Paul Rubens as an artist and a person, is his constant tug-of-war with the documentary's director, Matt Wolfe.

At times, Rubens is goofing around during the interviews and being coy. Other times, he tells Wolf he doesn't trust him and would rather get his message out himself without Wolf's editorial interference. Pee-wee as himself makes clear that Paul Rubens was a control freak of sorts. And at the end, Rubens finally gets in the last word, unfiltered. It's worth hearing.

At times, Rubens is goofing around during the interviews and being coy. Other times, he tells Wolf he doesn't trust him and would rather get his message out himself without Wolf's editorial interference. Pee-wee as himself makes clear that Paul Rubens was a control freak of sorts. And at the end, Rubens finally gets in the last word, unfiltered. It's worth hearing.

At times, Rubens is goofing around during the interviews and being coy. Other times, he tells Wolf he doesn't trust him and would rather get his message out himself without Wolf's editorial interference. Pee-wee as himself makes clear that Paul Rubens was a control freak of sorts. And at the end, Rubens finally gets in the last word, unfiltered. It's worth hearing.