DAILY CALL SHEET: AUGUST 8, 2026

 

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) Bow-tied man-child Pee-wee Herman is having an absolutely perfect day, that is until someone steals his highly customized Schwinn DX Cruiser, the one thing he treasures above all else in the world. Conned by a phony psychic into believing it has been taken to the Alamo, Pee-wee packs up his collection of novelty gags and sets off on a cross-country trek to retrieve his beloved bicycle. Along the way, he encounters a host of bizarre characters including an escaped convict, a surprisingly dance-enthusiast biker gang, and the unforgettable Large Marge. By ever-so-slightly toning down his stage character of Pee-wee and placing himself in the insanely capable hands of first-time big-screen director Tim Burton, Paul Reubens delivers one of the best comedies of the '80s, the one decade fully prepared to embrace his weirdness.

 

It only takes a few minutes into the film to realize Pee-wee has a bit of a First Commandment problem as he's obviously turned his bike into an idol. As the Church notes, possessions are not evil in themselves. In fact, they can often be considered be gifts from God which can be used for one’s needs, the good of others, or the glory of God. Possessions only become a problem when attachment to them turns into domination: when they control the heart, displace trust in God, hinder charity, or, as in the case of PW and his bicycle, become the measure of happiness and security. It's best to follow the Church's advice when it comes to possessions; hold them lightly as a steward and love God first of all.

 

Haunted Honeymoon (1986) Soon to be wed Larry and Vickie take a break from their hit 1930s radio show to travel to Larry's ancestral estate where they hope to both get married and discover what's been giving Larry the on-air jitters. Much to the couple's dismay, however, not only do their wedding guests begin to arrive, but so do a hitman hired to dispatch Larry, as well as what appears to be a werewolf. Old dark house shenanigans ensue as bodies are found, bodies are lost, and family secrets are revealed. Led by real life newlyweds Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, and featuring Dom DeLuise in drag as Larry's overwrought aunt, the cast is perfectly likable, and they breeze through the lighthearted goings-on like the pros they are. Given that, it would be nice to say the film's a laugh riot, but sadly, it settles for being mildly enjoyable.

 

Blessed Karl of Austria was the last Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary, and is widely remembered for supporting Pope Benedict XV’s peace initiatives during WWI and for the reforms he tried to initiate to help the poor, veterans, widows, and orphans in his homeland. In Catholic circles, though, he's celebrated not only as a model of Christian leadership, but also as a model of how to be a new husband. Right before marriage to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Karl had their wedding rings engraved with the antiphon Sub tuum praesidium (“We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God”). More famously, he told his betrothed, “Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven.” These words remain one of the most frequently cited lines for Catholic newlyweds, spoken as a reminder that the primary goal of marriage from the first day is mutual sanctification.