Pee-wee's Big Adventure: Is it just me, or...? (Gen X Nostalgia Alert)

Okay, fellow Gen Xers, moviebuff_marc here. I just revisited "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and man, the nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. I haven't seen it in years (probably since it came out on VHS!) and it's still...weird. But in a good way, right? I mean, Paul Reubens was a genius. But here's my question: does anyone else see the Chaplin/Keaton influence? Pee-wee's whole persona, the slapstick, the manic energy... it feels like a direct descendent from those silent era greats, but cranked up to 11 with 80s Day-Glo. That scene in the Alamo basement? So Buster Keaton. Or even something like "Modern Times" but with a bike instead of a machine. I know Tim Burton directed but I wonder how much of that was Reubens himself. And speaking of Burton... that large Marge scene still gives me the creeps! Totally different vibe than the rest of the movie. But I think that's what makes it work. It's like a random jolt of dark humor that just sticks in your brain. Also, I was thinking that Pee-wee's obsessive love for his bike is kind of a McGuffin or something. I mean, it's just a bike, but if it was anything else, the film wouldn't of worked. Anyone else agree? So, am I totally off base here comparing it to silent film legends? Or are there others out there who see the connection? Also, anyone know what kind of bike it was anyway? Just curious! Let me know your thoughts!