On H List of Movie Reviews

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Hook (1991)

Rate: 4
Viewed: 8/14

Hook
8/14: Hook is a rare misfire in Steven Spielberg's oeuvre.

But luckily for us all, he'll go on to make Schindler's List in two years. So, I forgive him for it. For a kid's film, Hook is too long to sit through, clocking at a whopping 142 minutes when it should've been 52 minutes shorter.

The main fault, despite the lavish production values and several big-name stars, is that it never gels together. Robin Williams is on one page, Dustin Hoffman is on the next, Julia Roberts on third, and Bob Hoskins who's somewhere in many pages later. The special effects are never in sync with them.

Add the annoying child stars into the mix and also the earnestness to make every moment to be constantly Mary Poppins special. Hence, what we have here is a craptacular fantasy picture that's in the same vein of the awful The NeverEnding Story franchise. Who the hell thinks Julia Roberts is all fucking that? What a crock shitful of saccharine crap I've been spoon-fed by the sight of her.

However, there are several positives. Dustin Hoffman is good as the eponymous villain, easily the best thing going. The last hour comes too late but does save the film from being a complete turkey while the exterior sets are nicely done.

All in all, I fail to see how Hook is a children's film.