Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Dustin Hoffman | ... | Captain Hook | |
Robin Williams | ... | Peter Banning | |
Julia Roberts | ... | Tinkerbell | |
Bob Hoskins | ... | Smee | |
Maggie Smith | ... | Granny Wendy | |
Caroline Goodall | ... | Moira Banning | |
Charlie Korsmo | ... | Jack 'Jackie' Banning | |
Amber Scott | ... | Maggie Banning | |
Laurel Cronin | ... | Liza, Wendy's Housekeeper | |
Phil Collins | ... | Inspector Good | |
Arthur Malet | ... | Tootles | |
Isaiah Robinson | ... | Pockets | |
Jasen Fisher | ... | Ace | |
Dante Basco | ... | Rufio | |
Raushan Hammond | ... | Thud Butt |
Peter Pan (Robin Williams) has grown up to be a cut-throat merger and acquisitions lawyer, and is married to Wendy's (Dame Maggie Smith's) granddaughter, Moira (Caroline Goodall). Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, Jack (Charlie Korsmo) and Maggie (Amber Scott), and Peter returns to Neverland with Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts). With the help of her and the Lost Boys, he must remember how to be Peter Pan again in order to save his children by battling with Captain Hook once again. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Purportedly Steven Spielberg is not happy with the end product of Hook. I'm at a loss to know why because I think it's an absolutely charming fantasy, using his own peculiar take on the Peter Pan story and extending it.
Robin Williams as Peter Banning is a hard driving lawyer with a wife and two children Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo and Amber Scott respectively. He was an orphan kid who married the granddaughter of Wendy Darling who was Sir James M. Barrie's inspiration for the Peter Pan tale.
But it's all real, Robin Williams doesn't know he's Peter Pan who left Never Never Land for reasons you'll discover in the film. But he left one nasty enemy there in Captain Hook and Hook captures his children to lure him back to Never Never Land where Hook can take vengeance upon him.
Spielberg got some great performances out of his cast which also includes Julia Roberts as the elfin Tinkerbell and Maggie Smith as the aged Wendy. But stealing the film completely in one bravura performance is Dustin Hoffman.
Captain Hook is one of those fabulous roles where the actor can just feast on the scenery and can just go to town with it. It's a role that it is impossible to overact in. I doubt if Dustin Hoffman ever enjoyed himself more in making a film.
Hook got five Oscar nominations in the technical categories, but sad to say did not win anything in 1991. I'm surprised that one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator films beat Hook out for Best Visual Effects, this one is clearly superior in that department if anything.
Robin Williams has his innings as well, trying to remember his past as Peter Pan and get back into Pan like behavior to defeat Captain Hook. As to why he left Never Never Land in the first place. Let's just say he took one too many trips outside his domain and something happened to him that happens to all young men at some point.
Hook is a great piece of family entertainment from Steven Spielberg and Dustin Hoffman's fans will really enjoy it.