The little boy who DID grow up (Hook (DVD))

Member Name: Tara

Product:	Hook (DVD)
Date:	09/01/01 (151 review reads)
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‘Hook’ is the imaginative and generally underrated sequel to J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’.

Robin Williams plays Peter Panning, the little boy who DID grow up. He is now married (to Wendy’s grand daughter Moira) and has two children of his own. But it’s obvious that he’s not the ideal Father; he is a workaholic who never keeps his promises to his family.

On revisiting Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith) in London, Hook decides to take his revenge on the boy who cut off his hand years earlier and snatches the children, leaving it up to Tink to remind Peter of his true identity, so he can return to Never-Never land to rescue them.

Ever the reluctant hero, in the years that have passed, Peter has lost the ability to fly, fight and use his imagination. And he has now got to prove himself to the Lost Boys and their new leader Ruffeo, as well as battle his rival, Captain James Hook, in a fight between good and evil in three days time.

Hook is a sinister and repulsive villain; dressed lavishly in red with a black wig, slick whiskers and bushy eyebrows, just how everybody imagines him. He and his sidekick Mr. Smee make a hilarious partnership and both Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins make outstanding performances as the rogues consistently outsmarted by the good guys.

The film has an all-star cast, headed by Robin Williams, who is very convincing and very funny as the adult Peter Pan. Julia Roberts also stars as the feisty fairy, who has always been in love with him, and Gwyneth Paltrow also makes a very brief appearance as the young Wendy. The acting all round, is just excellent.

The film is very much a family one (although there is a smidgen of adult humour to keep everyone happy), set in an enchanting land of pirates, mermaids, food fights, sword fights and runaway shadows. With the beautiful and magical sets, colourful characters and authentic costumes Never-Never Land seems like a
very real place.

With morals the importance of being with your family and not wasting your childhood, action, laughs and a memorable soundtrack, ‘Hook’ is a real classic and well worth a watch.

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