December 17, 1991 -- ``Hook'' is a passable film based on the Peter Pan story, but it suffers from a number of flaws. The strong part of the film is an interesting story and the performances of Robin Williams as Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook. Williams literally carries the film on his back, and that is a heavy burden, while Hoffman has fun playing a rather snobbish and silly Hook.

The problems with the film start when Williams, as Peter Pan, returns to Never Never Land as a grownup trying to save his two children, who have been abducted by Hook. Never Never Land doesn't seem all that magical. The sets reminded me of those in the film ``Popeye,'' a little too busy and cluttered, sort of like a giant indoor golf course, but without the bright green colors. There's a real problem with anachronisms in Never Never Land. Skateboards, baseball and 18th Century sword play don't mix.

The Lost Boys in Peter Pan's old gang are not as interesting as the adults in the film and the children who played Peter Pan's children did not generate much sympathy or interest either. Usually, Spielberg works well with kids. Not this time.

The film was also overlong. About 20 minutes could have been cut without losing anything. There are also a number of self-indulgent references in the script about various movies Spielberg or the other stars have made.

The man who saves the film is Robin Williams. He is perfectly cast as an aging, fat, Yuppie lawyer who has lost the imagination, sense of wonder and adventure he had as a child, but regains it by the end of the story. Julia Roberts is believable as Tinkerbell, but seems lost in the plot and in oversized sets.

With all the money and talent and hype that went into this film, it should have been a lot better, but it is entertaining enough to rate a passing grade, especially for Robin Williams fans. This film rates a C.

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