- Film Review
- Reviewed By John Ferguson
-
3 out of 5
Purists will shudder at what Steven Spielberg has done to JM Barrie's classic tale here, but their protests are likely to be ignored by those children who prefer old-fashioned derring-do to be brightened up with some 1990s trimmings. In this take on Peter Pan, Robin Williams plays the grown-up Peter, a ruthless business pirate who has no time for his family and no memory of his magical past. That changes, however, when his children are kidnapped and he gets a visit from Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts). As good as Williams is, the film is stolen by an almost unrecognisable Dustin Hoffman, whose Hook is suitably pantomimic (he is said to have modelled his performance partly on the larger-than-life screen image of Terry-Thomas) yet oddly sympathetic, a villain lost without his nemesis. The scenes between him and Bob Hoskins as Smee are a delight and, although the sentimentality gets a little sticky at times, this remains rousing entertainment.
Plot Summary
Fantasy adventure starring Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins. Workaholic lawyer Peter Banning and his family spend Christmas in London with an old relative, Granny Wendy. The adults arrive home one evening to find that the children have vanished and a note has been left by Captain James Hook. With the help of a fairy named Tinkerbell, Peter sets off for Neverland to reclaim his offspring.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Captain James Hook
- Dustin Hoffman
- Peter Banning / Peter Pan
- Robin Williams
- Tinkerbell
- Julia Roberts
- Smee
- Bob Hoskins
- Granny Wendy
- Maggie Smith
- Moira Banning
- Caroline Goodall
- Jack
- Charlie Korsmo
- Maggie
- Amber Scott
- Liza
- Laurel Cronin
- Inspector Good
- Phil Collins
- Tootles
- Arthur Malet
- Pockets
- Isaiah Robinson
- Ace
- Jasen Fisher
- Rufio
- Dante Basco
- Thud Butt
- Raushan Hammond
- Don't Ask
- James Madio
- Too Small
- Thomas Tulak
- Latchboy
- Alex Zuckerman
- No Nap
- Ahmad Stoner
- Young Wendy
- Gwyneth Paltrow
Crew
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
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