Secondhand Lions (2003)

The story is amazing and played out on screen by some of the best, THE best, and this has one of the best and funniest fight scenes in movie history!Great for family and gotta love the end!!!

Secondhand Lions is directed by Tim McCanlies and stars Haley Joel Osment as Walter, a boy living in the 1950's with a mom that is a very irresponsible parent. When his mother decides that she's going to college, which Walter is suspicious of being dishonest, she drops him off at his two great uncles' house in Texas. He's never met these uncles, but, while living with them, will learn and experience many different things about life and being a man.I was raised on Secondhand Lions. I remember watching this movie for the first time as a five year old with my grandmother. I recently rewatched it, and it isn't' the perfect film I remembered it to be, however still being an amazing story. The lessons that Walter learns while living with his uncles are very coming-to-age worthy, and fit perfectly well with the theme of this movie, that being that believing in specific things, true or not, is necessary to live a happy life.The best thing Secondhand Lions seems to offer is the incredible acting talent delivered by each and every actor credited. Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, two legendary actors cast as uncles Hub and Garth, both do amazing as the characters they're cast for, however different they may be from each other. Hub likes to fight, and give "becoming a man" speeches to teenage "punks" that he beats up, while Garth likes to garden and tell tales of the past, however accurate they may be. Both of these actors do great in their roles, and play great parenting figures for young Walter, played excellently by the mid-adolescent Haley Joel Osment.The direction is nothing to clap for, but it isn't bad, either. Secondhand Lions is the second film directed by Tim McCanlies, after Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 (1998), and, while his abilities have improved, he could still use a bit more practice. Although the action scenes aren't abundant, they are filmed well, and deserve recognition. Other than that, however, most of the rest of the movie is just exposition or "talking" scenes. Although said scenes are entertaining, the direction is pretty usual, and doesn't exactly add anything particular to the film.The pacing isn't the greatest either. Throughout almost the entire film, Uncle Garth is periodically telling Walter about his and Hub's past together. However, the spacing of these flashback scenes is actually pretty substandard. Within thirty minutes, twenty of it will have been dedicated to the flashbacks, and then we see no flashbacks for another half hour. The film also takes place in a single summer, and a lot of the film will focus on a particular day, and then jump forward in time without explanation. The pacing of the film is collectively poor, and could've been improved upon.The last thing I'll mention is unfortunately a negative, but not a huge one. There are a couple characters that seem somewhat unnecessary, and are spontaneously thrown into the plot for a small purpose, or no purpose at all, and then are abandoned by the script. This stole attention from the story's true intention, which is to tell a great story. If some of these characters were removed, or served a greater purpose, then this complaint would be put to rest very quickly.In conclusion, Secondhand Lions is actually a really good film, there's just a few smaller aspects of it that are sub-par. If the filmmakers would've tweaked a couple things, Secondhand Lions would be one of the greatest coming-to-age films ever made. However, I still would recommend this film almost anybody, because it is an enjoyable time.

Once in awhile Hollywood takes a chance on a Family Friendly throwback to an innocent age before the Code broke down and a Rating System was installed. A time when Movies at times, and audiences were routinely given a joyful juvenile fun filled escape with poignant Life Lessons that entertained. Fairy Tales and Storylands unscathed by cynicism.Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Harry Osmet are forced into approximation and the screen comes alive with a Coming-of-Age Tale of Male Bonding and Wonder. The Movie is expertly imaged with swashbuckling adventure and contains wishful things like True Love, being a Real Man, and animal sidekicks.Some say that this is pure Cornball and the Film knows that and plays it well. A beautiful looking Film, but the Critics were tepid. One wonders why and perhaps it's all that cynicism that infects the intellectual with a worn out attitude and the heart suffers. Inspirational, charming, and certainly a treat for Family viewing.

Secondhand Lions (2003): Dir: Tim McCanlies / Cast: Haley Joel Osment, Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, Kyra Sedgwick, Nicky Katt: Enchanting comedy about storytelling. Title refers to an old transported lion as well as the two uncles and their brave tales. Haley Joel Osment is sent to stay with his uncles for the summer. They tell of adventures involving theft, war, Princesses, gold, and the ever present glow of romance. It is difficult to tell whether the stories are true but director Tim McCanlies details the film with ideas that provide great visual elements that enhance the imagination much as it does Osment. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine are hilarious and genuine as the uncles. Caine tells Osment of Duvall's lost romance and the reason behind his sleepwalking. It is obvious that by the end of the film the two uncles will fully adapt to having this kid around but the leads add a great deal of fun to it all. Osment is superb sporting curiosity as to what is fact and fiction but will ultimately have to deal with other issues in his life. Kyra Sedgwick plays his mother in what is the most unsympathetic role in the film. This is the film's biggest flaw in the mother's willingness to do what she does so willingly. Nicky Katt is featured to abuse Osment and suffer at the hands of the veterans. Heart warming film of love and friendship that should never be secondhand. Score: 7 ½ / 10