15 Most Underrated Movies Of The 90s
12. Hook
Made by the man who invented the summer blockbuster, it's true that Hook doesn't really hold up when compared to the likes of Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan - but then it's also true that few movies do.
Hook, outside of some nostalgia (a nostalgia that does, admittedly, play some part in listing it here, and to pretend otherwise is just silly), is generally regarded as one of Spielberg's worst films: 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a rating of 4.5/10; 52% on Metacritic; a much lower-than-expected box-office haul of $300m; even Spielberg's not a fan.
The movie, however, is exactly the kind of blockbuster fun for all the family that a Peter Pan movie directed by Spielberg should be. The London setup is an interesting spin on the Pan mythos - and the stuff with the window even a little creepy for kids - before we're whisked off to a colourful interpretation of Neverland, where the film's art direction really shines and the movie, like Peter thinking a happy thought, is allowed to fly.
Robin Williams is a perfect choice for an adult version of Peter, with such a childlike joy in his performance, and Dustin Hoffman likewise is brilliantly hammy as Hook, while Bob Hoskins' Smee steals every scene he's in. Bursting with heart and fun - if slightly bloated - there's enough here to keep you going straight on 'til morning, and all that's left to say is one word:
"RU-FI-O!"
[James Hunt]