Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

Family

Hook

Amblin Entertainment

TriStar Pictures

Allied Stars

United States of America

English

Dustin Hoffman

Robin Williams

Julia Roberts

Bob Hoskins

Maggie Smith

Caroline Goodall

Charlie Korsmo

Amber Scott

Laurel Cronin

Phil Collins

Arthur Malet

Isaiah Robinson

Jasen Fisher

Dante Basco

Raushan Hammond

James Madio

Thomas Tulak

Alex Zuckerman

Ahmad Stoner

Bogdan Georghe

Adam McNatt

René González Jr.

Brian Willis

Brett Willis

Ryan Francis

Max Hoffman

Kelly Rowan

Stephanie Furst

Shannon Marie Kies

Regina Russell Banali

Jewel Newlander Hubbard

Jeannine Renshaw

Rebecca Hoffman

Jeannine Wagner

Francesca Serrano

Kevin Gasca

Andre Bollinger

Lauren Friedler-Gow

Bryce Armstrong

Margie Takeda

Alyson Healing

Zoe Koehler

Scott Williamson

Wayne Aten

Michael Hirshenson

Jake Hoffman

Geoffrey Lower

Don S. Davis

Cameron Thor

Brad Blumenthal

Brenda Isaacs Booth

Jan Cobler

Ruth de Sosa

Stuart White

Gwyneth Paltrow

Don McLeod

Kim O'Kelley

Beverly Polcyn

Randi Cee

Mary Bond Davis

David Crosby

Nick Tate

Tony Burton

Glenn Close

Nick Ullett

Matthew Van Ginkel

Ray Tveden

Kim Robillard

Michael Runyard

Gary Epper

Jeff Bornstein

Carrie Fisher

George Lucas

Jimmy Buffett

Mark Winn

Malia Scotch Marmo

Dean Cundey

Nick Castle

Kathleen Kennedy

Jane Jenkins

James V. Hart

Ve Neill

Frank Marshall

John Williams

Steven Spielberg

Dodi Fayed

Norman Garwood

Michael Kahn

Gerald R. Molen

Janet Hirshenson

Eric Brevig

Ora Green

Jeff Stanman

Raymond Stella

Ana Maria Quintana

Bruce Cohen

Tom Numbers

Kate Davey

Ron Judkins

Mark Woods

Carla McCloskey

David Le Vey

Jolanda Wipfli

Anthony Powell

Stuart Neumann

James P. Cullen

Kelly Porter

Daniel T. Dorrance

Janna Phillips

Judy Crown

R. Bruce Prochal

Garrett Lewis

Gary Hymes

Clyde E. Bryan

Marci R. Johnson

Moni Mansano

Thomas E. Sanders

Joseph Hodges

Robert Jackson

Michael Lantieri

Larry D. Davis

Cha Blevins

Andrew Precht

Murray Close

Stephen Robinette

Patrick Marshall

Chris Franco

Raymond Michels

Stephen Shultz

Jerry Luthart

Jay M. Hirsch

Tim Gonzales

Terry Miles

Anthony Wong

Randy Syracuse

Henry Alberti

Edwin Butterworth

Edward R. Thompson Jr.

Tom Ryba

Kim Santantonio

Keith Roverud

Garry Elmendorf

Charles L. Campbell

Peter J. Kelly

Melanie Levitt

Ginger Grievs

Steve Chandler

Marty Dobkousky

Elena Holden Tuens

Randy Gunter

Mike Moschella

Steven Cardarelli

Daniel B. Ossello

Louie Lantieri

Thomas R. Homsher

Marvin Salsberg

Jeff Brown

Anne C. Ford

Steven R. Molen

Gus Le Pre

Norma Lee

Alan Shultz

Dave Wachtman

Gregory C. Tippie

Roger M. Janson

David Beasley

Clete Cetrone

Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.

What if Peter Pan grew up and forgot who he was? What if he returned to Neverland?

RELEASED IN 1991 and directed by Steven Spielberg, "Hook" stars Robin Williams as a corporate American Lawyer who must go to the island of Neverland after his two kids are kidnapped in London by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). He has misadventures with the fairy Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts), pirates and a group of ragtag lost boys led by Rufio (Dante Basco); meanwhile hook tries to win the affections of his kids. Maggie Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow are on hand as older and younger versions of Wendy respectively.

This is a family-oriented adventure/fantasy/comedy cut from the same cloth as "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968), "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971), "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004) and "Into the Woods" (2014); it’s just not a musical like some of those flicks even though a song or two are featured. Depending on your tastes, “Hook” is no better or worse than any of these movies (although “The Wizard of Oz” is in a league of its own, of course).

While I love serious swashbuckling, Peter Pan was always too kiddie/fantasy-based for my tastes. This is ironic since I have Peter Pan Syndrome, which Spielberg also admitted to; and my wife has The Wendy Dilemma (look ’em up). Fans of Peter Pan will favor this flick more than me.

Nevertheless, it was made by scores of talented people and contains some genuinely amusing moments (I busted out laughing at least four times). Hoffman’s titular character is iconic. And Roberts works surprisingly well as Tinkerbell, but they should’ve accented her beauty further. Speaking of which, the film needs more feminine sex appeal. Even the makers of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” knew enough to include a little bit.

Both Spielberg and Williams liked the two bookend sequences, but have reservations about the long Neverland middle-piece, which is the bulk of the picture. Williams admitted he felt lost in Neverland, probably because he was thrust from one misadventure to another so briskly. But the pre-CGI sets are colorful and imaginative; it’s a fun movie with a lot of energy. Peter Pan just ain’t my thang.

THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hour, 22 minutes (overlong). WRITERS: James V. Hart, Nick Castle and Malia Scotch Marmo wrote the script based on concepts from the works of J.M. Barrie, particular “Peter and Wendy” (1911). BOX OFFICE: The movie cost $70 million (not including marketing) and made $301 million worldwide with $120 million of that domestically. While it was the fourth highest-grossing movie worldwide in 1991, it was still considered a disappointment by producers, the greedy bastages.

GRADE: B-/C+

Andre Gonzales

There will never be a better Peter Pan movie ever. This movie is so old but every time I watch it, I love it.

CinemaSerf

Ok, so it's not the original 1953 Disney classic, but it is still a great fun adventure that, surely, brings out the kid in all of us. "Peter Banning" is an hot shot businessman who rather carelessly neglects his family. When he heads to London from the USA with them to meet with "Granny Wendy" (Dame Maggie Smith) we learn that he was adopted, but only after being discovered by the old lady who looked after a great many orphans - not least his wife "Moira" (Caroline Goodall). It's only when his two children are mysteriously kidnapped from their nursery late one snowy evening, he begins to remember his life before his adoption - and with the help of some magic and sparkle from "Tink" (Julia Roberts) is soon back in "Never Never Land" facing his arch-nemesis "Capt. Hook" (Dustin Hoffman) in a battle royal to reclaim his children. Still sceptical about the whole thing - he must learn to believe, to hope and to feel joy again before he has any hope of convincing the "Lost Boys" to assist in his dangerous quest. It's great fun, this film. Hoffman is super as the hook-toting' sophisticate-cum-baddie, and even the kids are not too annoying. Indeed, they have some cracking food fights and there is loads of acrobatics and mischief too. I wasn't mad about the concept of "the Pan" - that seemed just a little too oppressive, menacing - sterile even given the whole purpose of Sir J. M. Barrie's book is to remind us about what is important life - people, loyalty, love - and most of all - fun!! Yes, it is a bit lengthy. It takes far too long to get going, but once it does it is well worth a chortle as the script offers humour for all ages and the score, well that is instantly recognisable from John Williams. I'm a great fan of this story, and if this goes half way to perpetuating the delightful sentiment (and partially funding London's Great Ormond Street Hospital) then that can only be for the better. Second star to the right and keep on til morning...

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