Childhood is such a funny thing. We spend so much time developing and maturing and losing a part of ourselves in the process. And when we finally reach that age where we are long past the silly games and the clever but not so clever imaginings, we spend time longing to return to the days when life was simpler, easier, more fun. But we can’t really go back, we can only return to a version of ourselves and even then, only for a few moments in time.
But what if we could?
Hook is a sequel to the classic Peter Pan (Robin Williams) story about an adult Peter, now Banning, who as lost his childhood. He’s a workaholic, short tempered, busybody lawyer who has no time for his family, is deathly afraid of flying, and has no time for anything remotely resembling fun and it’s not until his infamous foe, Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) takes his two children to Neverland that Peter is forced to confront his past, remember his childhood, and rebuild his legend.
But the process, and ultimate message, that of remembering the simple joy of childhood, was not achieved in the end, at least not according to critics. Hook is Spielberg’s lowest critically rated feature length movie as a director, boasting only a 29% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. But it also has a higher audience rating than several of his other movies including E.T. So, what is the cause of this disparity?
I can’t gather a definitive answer without far more research, but I think it comes down to perspective. Critics, who saw the movie when it came out in 1991 as a less than diverse group of adults, saw it through an adult lens. Audiences, who are far more diverse, have watched it over years and years of their lives, with many of us, especially Millennials and Gen Z, having seen it as children. And this lens can’t be ignored because children have a unique perspective.
The perspective of a child is far more willing to trust and believe in the magic around them. Imagination is a fuel and there is nothing too crazy or wild that can happen. And Hook thrives on this idea, especially in the middle of the movie where Peter has to come find his own sense of childhood happiness again. He, like many adults, has forgotten that part of himself and is now living in the present and the future.
But that need for imagination is necessary when watching a movie like this, a continuation of a well-known story. Peter and Hook come together and suddenly there is something there, even before the pair recognize each other. But the cartoonish banter and antics between them is completely believable when you accept that this is a childlike view of these legendary characters.
But it’s not… it’s Spielberg’s view, and he doesn’t actually give it that childlike lens. While yes there is play and imagination, the moments that occurs are not as carefully constructed as the moments of more adult memory and perspective. And that’s what causes Hook to stumble. It wants to be for children, but it’s themes are all for adults… adults who don’t seem to catch the very message it is sending.
And so the final product, while a fun and exciting adventure, is lacking in something because of that absence of distinct perspective. The reason that Peter Pan is so beloved is because it’s that childhood dream of never growing up. But when Peter does grow up, the final product struggles to lead him back to that place of childlike fantasy, and ultimately, while the movie is a phenomenally fun story, it could have been even better.
So, let’s break everything down.
All Spielberg movies will be judged based on the same five pieces of criteria.
Acting – Are the performances good and do they serve the story or are they distracting and awkward?
Story and Dialogue – Does the story being told make sense and is the use of dialogue allow it to succeed or does the story struggle and/or the dialogue drag it down
Shooting and Editing – How is the camera used, how are the shots arranged, what other elements are used to enhance the movie?
Design – How does the movie look? Does it help the movie or hurt the movie?
Iconic Moment – Spielberg has made several big iconic moments throughout cinema, what are they, how many of them are there, and which ones stand out the most?
All these criteria will be judged on a score of 10 for a total score of 50.
So here is my breakdown of Hook:
Acting – If there was ever an actor built to play an adult Peter Pan, it was Robin Williams. He’s energetic, fun, childlike, but also has the acting chops to play the other side of Peter where he has lost himself. Dustin Hoffman disappears into Hook and it makes the character a fun and campy villain reminiscent of the classic movies and plays. Likewise Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins find their own voices as Tinkerbell and Smee respectively and the Lost Boys, led by Dante Bosco’s unforgettable turn as leader Rufio, are colorful, unique, and fun to watch. A really strong cast across the board. (10/10)
Story and Dialogue – As I said the story in its nature is very interesting and fun. It does go a touch long and hands on the sentimental for too much time in places. And the dialogue is childish, even in places where it feels like it shouldn’t be, not to mention there could be more Williams improvising in there than we may realize because again, he was brilliant. (7/10)
Shooting and Editing – I think this one suffers from the same issue I mentioned earlier where Neverland just doesn’t feel like that imaginative world it needs to be, at least not in the camera lens. There are some solid shots but nothing so remarkable that you can’t watch it in other Spielberg movies. Not to mention the lighting is so brutally flat across the board that you just have trouble seeing half of it. (6/10)
Design – I think this one wants to be better and certain pieces are phenomenal. Hook’s whole look is almost as iconic as any version of the character, likewise the Crocodile is so intimidating that you just can’t help but marvel at it. But the Lost Boy’s fort is too muted, and the costumes all feel faded, and nothing feels perfect. (8/10)
Iconic Moment – The moment where Peter rediscovers his ability to imagine and then leads the boys in a food fight is such a hope bringing, heart-warming scene. It shows itself to be remarkably simple but also phenomenally profound and helps to bring the characters together as a result. (8/10)
Total Score: 39/50
Current Ranking:
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Jaws
Hook
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Duel
Empire of the Sun
The Color Purple
Twilight Zone: The Movie
The Sugarland Express
1941
Always
We have to now wait two years to see Spielberg’s next big outing as a director. But when he comes back in 1993 he manages to accomplish a feat that few other directors have ever managed to pull off. We’ll tackle his most accomplished pair of movies one at a time starting with a big reawakening in the next week.
So until then, thanks for taking the time to get Ploominated!
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