Review - Hook (1991)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. One of my personal favorite films based on the story of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie is the 1991 Steven Spielberg film Hook. 

        The movie opens with Peter Banning, a workaholic lawyer living in America with his wife, Moira, and their two children, Jack and Maggie. Unfortunately, while Peter manages to attend Maggie's school play, which is a production of Peter Pan, he misses out on Jack's very important baseball game. Ouch. Anyway, the Banning family is heading from America to London, where they will be visiting Moira's grandmother, Wendy. Also residing in Wendy's house is an old man named Tootles, who is looking for his lost marbles, and Liza, who is the housekeeper. 

        Peter and Moira take Wendy to a dedication banquet, where Wendy is being honored for her work with orphans such as Peter, while Maggie and Jack are left behind. While Peter, Moira, and Wendy are out, a mysterious figure abducts Maggie and Jack, leaving a note for Peter... signed J.A.S. Hook. Tootles then looks at Peter and tells him: "Have to fly. Have to fight. Have to crow. Have to save Maggie. Have to save Jack. Hooky's back." Unfortunately, aside from taking statements and making their report, the police aren't much help. Later that evening, Wendy tries to convince Peter that the story that J.M. Barrie wrote about Peter, Wendy, and Captain Hook were all real, and Peter is, in truth, Peter Pan. Peter, however, doesn't buy it, but gets a dose of reality when he gets a visit from none other than Tinkerbell, who flies him to Neverland. 

       Neverland, apparently, has changed since Peter left. For instance, a massive pirate town has been built, the crocodile has been stuffed and turned into a silent clock, and Captain Hook is pretty much in charge. Peter learns that Hook does, indeed, have Maggie and Jack as hostages, but Hook doesn't believe Peter is, in fact, Peter Pan. Mr. Smee, however, points out that Peter has simply been away from Neverland for so long he has no memory of anything there. Tinkerbell, however, is able to buy three days to jog Peter's memory and get him ready to face off against Hook. Peter is accidentally knocked overboard, but is rescued by three mermaids, who each give Peter a kiss and send him back to the surface. 

       It's here where we meet the Lost Boys, led by a teen named Rufio, who also don't believe Peter is actually Peter Pan. However, the Lost Boys agree to work with Peter to get him to remember his past. This includes many exercises, attempts to fly, and using his imagination to bring non-existent food to life. Meanwhile, Hook makes an effort to turn Maggie and Jack against their father, but Maggie isn't buying it. Jack, meanwhile, still angry over all of Peter's broken promises, is more easily swayed, and after a baseball game with some of the pirates, winds up joining them. Peter witnesses the game, and goes off on his own after seeing the way Jack embraces Hook as a father figure. After getting hit on the head with the baseball Jack hit, Peter finds the old hideout, and begins remembering his past: his stroller rolled away from his own mother as a baby, Tinkerbell rescued him, took him to Neverland, and helped him learn to fly. But, when he went back home, he learned his parents had another child. It was here where he met Wendy, John, and Michael, had many adventures with Wendy, until she grew too old. Peter then chose to not return to Neverland upon seeing Wendy's granddaughter Moira, and decided he himself wanted to become a father. 

        Finally finding his happy thought, being a father to Maggie and Jack, Peter begins to fly again, switches back to his classic outfit, and flies back to the Lost Boys camp. And, upon showing his skills, Rufio drops to his knees, returns Peter's sword, and proclaims "You are the Pan." After a night of fun, Tinkerbell tries to remind Peter of why he's in Neverland, eventually growing to full size to properly embrace Peter. But, it's here where he remembers his goal: rescue Maggie and Jack. And, working with Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys, Peter cooks up a plan. 

       The next day, Peter and the Lost Boys fend off the pirates, rescue Maggie and Jack, the latter of whom witnesses Hook killing Rufio, turns on Hook and rejoins his father, looking to go back home. As Peter leaves with Maggie and Jack, Hook vows he'll never stop until he gets what he wants: a one-on-one fight with Peter. And, of course we get said fight, which is fairly even, and almost ends with Hooky's defeat where Peter tells him "I want you to take your ship and go. And, I never want to see your face in Neverland again." But, being a pirate, Hook of course cheats, and ends up having his hook pierce the seemingly dead crocodile, which comes to life once more and devours him as he cries out "I want my mommy!" 

       The fight over, Peter has Tinkerbell lead Maggie and Jack back home, passes his sword onto a Lost Boy named Thudbutt, and returns to London to reunite with his family. Back in London, Moira is ecstatic to see Maggie and Jack, as well as Peter, who gives Tootles back his bag of marbles, which he had left behind in Neverland. Happy endings all around. 

        Hook is one of those movies that, on principle, shouldn't work. But, somehow, it manages to pull itself together. The impressive set design, fight choreography, costuming, and overall production design was really fantastic. The only thing that doesn't hold up is the CGI, which does feel just slightly dated. However, it's the performances that are the best part about Hook, with both Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook and Robin Williams as Peter Pan being the big selling point of the movie. Other greats like Bob Hoskins as Smee, Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, Maggie Smith as Wendy, and Caroline Goodall as Moira were also great, but it was the group of kids that were the Lost Boys, led by Dante Basco as Rufio, that were the other most memorable part of the movie aside from Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams. 

       Overall, while not among Steven Spielberg's finest works, it was a lot of fun and is definitely worth watching with the family. I'm giving Hook a rating of 4.75/5. 

       Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys in the next review.