Secondhand Lions (New Line Platinum Series) Reviews

• (4 1/2) A Delightful Time with Duvall, Caine and Osment

  
  By AVGGEAI1YGSAP on 2003-10-07
  As this film opens, a sullen fourteen year old Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is about to be deposited with his two gruff and irascible old uncles against his will by his mother Mae (Kyra Sedgwick) while she supposedly pursues her education and a career. Hub and Garth McCann, played respectively by Robert Duvall and Michael Caine, are no more enamored of the arrangement than is Walter, but an uneasy truce occurs between them as Walter comes to understand their eccentricities and in fact serves as somewhat of an outlet for Garth's desire to settle down somewhat in his final years. One of the elements twhich makes the film a true delight is the extreme nature of the antics of these "old men", whether it is shooting at traveling salesmen for fun or alienating their relatives to maintain their solitude. The backdrop to the story is that Hub and Garth are rumored to be quite wealthy; and in fact Walter's mother instructs him to attempt to locate the source and location of their supposed wealth. (Perhaps the mafia, or bank robberies, or the foreign legion?)

  As Walter settles in with them and their numerous dogs (and a pig who thinks he's a dog), the "plot suddenly thickens" as Hub acts strangely and Walter discovers mysterious evidence of a beautiful young woman somewhere in their history. Garth tells Walter a fantastic tale of foreign adventure and intrigue involving Hub and the enchanting princess Jasmine, and the story is actually incorporated into the movie in the form of the adventure epics of fifty years ago with Emanuelle Vaugier playing the role of Hub's lost love. Meanwhile, some "used" circus animals arrive, including a tired and sick old lion who Walter nurses back to health as he enjoys the "jungle" habitat provided by the corn field that has emerged from their failed attempt to grow a vegetable garden. The movie reaches a wonderful climax as the forces of good confront the forces of evil (true comic book style) and Walter is forced to confront the fact that life is full of surprises, not all of which include happy endings, and that we have to be strong enough to accept unpleasant truths and move on.

  But, of course, any description of the plot doesn't convey the appeal of this film; the storyline is simply the backdrop for the life which is infused into this movie by the superb performances of the stars, the excellent directing, and the way in which the story unfolds. It is fun yet touching, with enough elements of the unexpected interspersed with truly laugh out loud humorous incidents to make the almost two hours fly by. It's hard to know who is more appealing, those old second hand lions Robert Duvall and Michael Caine (who put their superb talents to use in a film they have stated that they really enjoyed making) or Jasmine, the circus lion who late in life was destined for her moment of glory. And the story has a marvelous symmetry, both in the juxtaposition of the opening and closing scenes and in the brief appearance of Josh Lucas as the adult Walter. Finally, the climatic moment is followed by a gradual conclusion to the story which incorporates a truly wonderful finale.

  In some aspects this is a far from perfect film; in some respects it would be easy to write a critical review detailing the fact that the plot was pure fantasy and that no attempt was made to seriously address many of the issues which the movie raises. But such criticisms would not be consistent with the mood which the movie evoked for me and the remainder of the audience. This movie is about life, about its surprises and its enjoyment, and as corny as it is it is also great fun. I enjoyed it so much that I have chosen to ignore one of my personal reviewing rules; I decided to round up my rating to five stars in spite of the fact that I haven't decided if it is good enough so that I will want to own the DVD. I know that I'll enjoy watching it several more times and decided that was good enough. So, go see this lighthearted film when you want to smile and laugh and feel good about life and it will confirm that whether you're old or a teenager it's still possible to learn and grow and have a good time.

  Tucker Andersen
  
  

• Wonderful family film! Rare these days.

  
  By A27ZOCD5B63Y0P on 2003-10-10
  This was a great movie. I just saw it last night -- for the second time. With Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Haley Joel Osment, how could they go wrong? But there's many a film out there that boasts a multi-talented all-star cast and yet still fails to deliver the goods.

  SECONDHAND LIONS is not one of them.

  The story is about young Walter who is just barely in his teens and is sent to live with his two great uncles. He constantly hears rumors of their hidden treasure that they stole from Al Capone, or took from a wealthy Arab, or obtained through a lawsuit, or...whatever you want to believe. Throughout the movie, Walter learns from his uncles, Hub and Garth, how to grow into a man and what the truly important things are in life; and Garth and Hub learn from Walter how to enjoy life to the fullest.

  The drama here is fantastic, and only once does the emotionalism get a little over-the-top (which is why I gave it four stars instead of five). The acting is fantastic. In this adventurous film you'll be reminded of images of INDIANA JONES, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, among many others.

  ...

  I wish every goofball (i.e. summer blockbuster) filmmaker in Hollywood -- you know, the ones that think creative filmmaking means having alot of CGI characters jumping around on skyscrapers and fighting villains in Power Ranger suits -- would simply sit down and watch SECONDHAND LIONS. Then they would know how to make a good movie.
  
  

• Firstrate Lionhearted

  
  By A3ADK3ZTJ87915 on 2004-04-02
  It occurs to me as I sit here pondering my review of "Secondhand Lions" that I must somehow cloak the first words that come to mind. Words, phrases, such as "a feel-good movie" or "good family fun" or "heart-warming." As if it were, well, "uncool" to label a movie such things these days, almost like a movie kiss of death. Isn't this a time of Hollywood special effects? Of hot babes and pyrotechnics? Of gratuitous violence and sensationalism? So it is. And so this movie is not. And oh, we are a glad audience for it!

  Haley Joel Osment, to whom many of us in the movie audience were introduced in "Sixth Sense," plays Walter, a young boy whose mother (Kyra Sedgewick) pursues everything in life but motherhood. He finds himself dumped like excess baggage on the well weathered front stoop of his two uncles' country house. The uncles, played with wonderful eccentricity by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, resist but later embrace their young nephew. How the three bond into a true family is a tale that does indeed warm the heart, lighten the spirit, and perhaps even restore a faded belief in today's cynical world that goodness, yes, goodness, still has a place on the silver screen. Osment is absolutely first rate in this movie, and the two vintage stars, Caine and Duvall, still shine as brightly as ever, if not more so.

  It may be that the popularity of movies such as this could send Hollywood a message. Good is still good on the movie screen.
  
  

• A Good Family Movie--So Rare Nowadays

  
  By A3K7WDRNIMB49W on 2003-09-30
  Secondhand Lions is a movie for almost the entire family, except for young children who might find it a little slow-moving and possibly boring. It combines fine acting, a good story, and real values without resorting to sex and profanity. Basically it is the story of young Walter (Haley Joel Osment), whose immature tart of a mother, Mae (Kyra Sedgwick), dumps him at the home of his two grand-uncles Garth (Michael Caine) & Hub (Robert Duvall). As she leaves him, she tells him that there is a rumor that they were Mafia hit men and have a fortune hidden. "Look for it," are her last words as she takes off, ostensibly to go to the court reporting school in Fort Worth. We eventually learn that she has dumped him before, even in an orphanage.

  Garth & Hub are eccentrics who shoot at fish in the lake and at the occasional traveling salesmen who come down the road to their house. Although they are not pleased to have the boy, they accept him. He is horrified to learn they have no television, no telephone, no air conditioning. One day a lion is delivered to their farm. They had hoped to hunt and kill the beast, but it is old and lazy and refuses to leave its crate. So of course they adopt it as a pet. Some relatives who have come to try to weasel themselves into the uncles' will let the lion out, and it finds a home in the cornfield, as close as it can come to a jungle.

  One night he sees Hub sleepwalking with a toilet plunger, which he brandishes like a sword. Garth begins to tell Walter a fantastic story about their youth, in which they were shanghaied from their European travels and commandeered into the French Foreign Legion. At this point we see the young Hub, magnificently portrayed with great panache by the handsome, mustached Christian Kane in a very energetic performance, as he fights with the Legion, often rescuing the less athletic Garth. Afterwards he fights against slavery, falls in love with the beautiful and spunky Princess Jasmine, and battles apparently insurmountable odds to be with her, gaining a fortune in the process.

  Walter & his uncles grow fond of each other, and an encounter in the general store in which Hub singlehandedly overcomes four young punks armed with knives lends credence to Garth's tale.

  Mae eventually returns with a sleaze of a boy friend (Nicky Katt) who hits Walter when he refuses to reveal the hiding place of the money. Jasmine, the lion, attacks him to protect Walter.

  Eventually Mae wants to take Walter home, and he must choose between life with her and life with his uncles.

  The ending of the movie, which I don't want to reveal, is very satisfying. Josh Lucas appears briefly as the adult Walter, who has become a successful cartoonist with his strip Walter & Jasmine, based on his and his uncles' lives, as they told it to him.

  All of the actors did a fine job, although I wish that Kane had been allowed to speak his lines instead of using Caine's voiceover for his scenes. I highly recommend this movie and look forward to buying the DVD.
  
  

• A Heartwarming Family Drama

  
  By A1CX86CO1MH5II on 2004-02-19
  When you first look at this movie, you might think to yourself that it's another coming-of-age story without any real plot. Well, you'd be half-right. It's definitely a coming-of-age story, but it does have a plot, and a rather enjoyable one at that.

  This tells the story of a young boy dropped at the doorstep of his two eccentric great uncles. The motives of his mother aren't entirely clear, except for the fact that she wants to get her hands on the millions of dollars her uncles supposedly have. The uncles have stories to tell their young nephew, but are hesitant at first to tell them. When it finally comes out, he isn't sure what he can and can't believe. The performance are tremendous in this movie, featuring Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Haley Osment. Watching all the characters mature in their relationships is a great film-viewing experience. If you're a fan of family dramas or coming-of-age films, then you're going to want to check this one out.
  
  

• Nothing Second-Hand About this Story
  By A9L6L5H9BPEBO on 2006-12-27
  Trying to please a date, I allowed myself to be dragged to this movie. It turned out to be one of those occasions that you're glad you went along. Since I am estrogen intolerant (chick flicks) and many women are testosterone intolerant (manly flicks), this movie strikes a balance.
  
  It begins with two old men performing acrobatics in a biplane over a Texas twilight sky. But on the horizon is a self-centered and irresponsible mother who drops her son with the two great uncles he's never seen before. The disinterested great uncles agree to take him for the summer. The boy notices a trunk his first night in the house and begins to look at the pictures and past of both of these eccentric men. He is intrigued and discovers more about their past with each event he experiences that summer. The more he learns, the closer he gets to his great uncles, and they with him.
  
  When the mother returns to pick up her son, the climax begins, but that would be telling you the end of the story. I recommend you see it instead.
  
  There is humor and action without violence. Language or skin are not a problem either. This movie is highly recommended for all audiences. It's a keeper.
  
  I don't see that woman anymore, but I have shown this to several new dates since! They loved it.
  
  
  
• A rare gem!
  By A26TSW6AI59ZCV on 2006-02-01
  Robert Duvall and Michael Caine play brothers who are semi-reclusive curmudgeons and who are, rumor has it, quite wealthy. Along comes Haley Joel Osment, their great-nephew, whose butterfly-brained mother dumps him in their laps for the summer. Are the old codgers former French Legionnaires, or mob hit-men, or bank robbers? Are they wealthy at all? Can Osment survive with a telephone or television? And, what is that growling noise coming from the "vegetable garden"?
  
  This is a thoroughly enjoyable family film with twists, turns, adventure, and lessons. Duvall's speech on what to believe in, is worth the purchase price, by itself. I didn't rent this movie; I bought it, and I'm glad I did.
  
  Oh, and what about Jasmine? And Jasmine?
  
  
• Deserves more than 5 stars!!
  By A3PEOF0GX4EN38 on 2005-07-26
  This is another movie that went unnoticed by the critics and a majority of the movie going public. It shouldn't have. What a wonderful little love story this turned out to be! You would never guess it by the characters, Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Haley-Joel Osment (I see dead people) but they pull it off. This is a perfect family movie, both my kids adored it.
  Caine and Duvall play grumpy old coots who's crazy antics clearly contrast against Osment's innocence. The love they share between them is heartwarming. My very favorite scene in the movie is the planting of the seeds with the ending running a very close second. I still smile when I think of about it. There is plenty of adventure which seems to lure boy viewers in as well as love, family, friendship, and loyalty.
  This is one story that shouldn't be missed.
  
  
• One of the best!
  By A1F3ZEPY608GJF on 2003-09-21
  With stars, Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment, we expected to be entertained. We were not disappointed. The story was worthy of their talents. This is a great film. My 15-year-old said this is her new all-time favorite movie.

  The characters are well-drawn and sympathetic. Just as young Walter (Haley Joel Osment) gets to know his great-uncles (Michael Caine and Robert Duvall), we are introduced to this pair of "Secondhand Lions". Just as Walter learns to trust these two eccentric strangers after a lifetime of lies from his untrustworthy mother, we are allowed to learn the lessons of life in pace with him. There are no plot tricks, just eye-widening revelations as the story unfolds at a satisfying pace.

  This is not a small quiet story, however. There is the rumor of a hidden fortune of which, it seems, everyone from relatives to traveling salesmen has heard. There are hints that it was obtained through the uncles' adventures but also that it might be ill-gotten gaines. Along with Walter, the audience discovers the truth of the rumor.

  There is action, comedy, danger, acts of courage and defiance, and tragedy that is part of human frailty. It's wonderfully accomplished in a way that allows older children to enjoy it with their parents. You have characters with whom you can identify, no matter your stage in life.

  The director skillfully weaves the past and the present and still manages to preserve the confirmation of story until the very end. I don't want to say too much about the film or it will spoil the fun of experiencing it. Don't miss this film!
  
  

• Second Hand is First Rate
  By A18BD98SU49UB7 on 2003-11-15
  Its great to know movies like this are still being made. Second Hand Lions has come and gone in the box office, finishing in the "warm hit" category receiving nearly $42 million at the box office. Unfortunately, even though those numbers are decent, nowadays its kind of "eh". I have to say, this movie should have made triple its earnings.

  Robert Duvall and Micheal Caine (This is no shocker) give fantastic performances as grouchy, mysterious, old uncles. Many questions arise: They may or may not have robbed the most powerful Sahib in Arabia...Their ability to buy anything they wish shows they have oodles of money hidden somewhere, but where? Are they former bank robber's, retired to the comfort's of the old farm? Confused? So is their Nephew, when he is dropped in their laps during hard times. He takes it upon himself to find out the details of his Uncles former lives.

  Its Been cool watching Haley Joel Osment go from practically a baby in Forrest Gump, to a child star in Sixth Sense, on to a smashing performance in A.I. Now we see him as a pubescent, voice cracking, young teen. At first I didn't think they could fit his square pegged (practically massive persona acting-wise) into this round hole (simple, yet complicated role), but after watching just a few scenes, my reservations melted away.

  Just as the Granpa in PRINCESS BRIDE would probably say this story is one of: "War, Romance, True Love, Villains, Revenge..." The list goes on. At the end of the film, and this is a nice touch, they don't quite seal the package - answer every single question. Fine by me. The average filmgoer has enough brains to come up with their own conclusion's, luckily the studio had faith in the truth of that. Secondhand Lions is one of the Best family movies of the year.
  
  

• This Ain't History
  By A364VIQ3KLAWVX on 2004-02-09
  If you cannot willingly suspend your disbelief, you'll probably join the ranks of those who gave this movie a low rating. If you can suspend your disbelief, you're in for a treat of a fantasy.

  90-year-olds do not fly planes upside down. 70-year-olds do not successfully rout four teenage bulldogs and convert them with kindness into poodles. Even old lions would probably attack unfamiliar 12-year-olds.

  But, so what? This is a movie about believing -- or needing to believe -- that love can arise from unpromising circumstances; that ignored kids can find a path to wholeness; that the tallest of tall tales deserve a place in a hopelessly cynical society. If you cannot believe any of this, don't waste your time with this movie. If you can believe it, you'll be sorry to see the final credits roll.
  
  

• A Giant Leap Above a Feel Good Movie!
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2004-02-11
  Tim McCanlies (writer/director) knows how to serve up a thoroughly entertaining yarn and in his SECONDHAND LIONS he succeeds at every level. The story (two idiosyncratic privacy-demanding old geezer/brothers are abruptly forced into the care of a kid whose been tossed about by a dream-chasing mother - and the results of cohabitation for a summer of mutual changes) has been told before but not so well. It doesn't hurt to have the classic acting talents of Robert DuVall and Michael Caine as the brothers, the still developing talent of Haley Joel Osment as the kid, and the always fine Kyra Sedgwick as the ditsy mother in the leading roles. Toss in a gaggle of the most loveable pets (a pig, several dogs and even a she-lion), who bond with Osment in listening to the glorious tales of the early days of the brothers in the French Foreign Legion, and the chemistry is terrific. Whether the tall tales of the brothers are based on reality or imagination is up to the viewer (and Osment) to decide and one of the many wise bits of philosophy in the movie comes from Caine who feels as long as you believe, then the 'reality' is secondary. Watching these two old loners gradually grow into a close, caring relationship with the boy is what fell-good family movies are able to do in assisting parents to encourage growth of the heart as well as the mind during those terrifying years of adolescence. Here is a film that is funny, filled with exotic action, has a moral, and in essence is just a fine little movie.
  
  
• Good solid family fun--I saw it twice, enjoyed it both times
  By A1IU7S4HCK1XK0 on 2004-02-22
  "Secondhand Lions" is sturdy family fare, plenty of entertainment for the adults as well as kids. It's a bit sugary-sweet but full of adventure and devoid of objectionable language, sex or nudity. The only issue some parents may have with the film is the humor surrounding two old codgers and shotguns.

  The plot centers around Hub and Garth, two crusty bachelors who are saddled with an unwanted grand-nephew when their niece, played by Kira Sedgewick, dumps him off at the ramshackle Texas farm on her way to "court recording school in Austin." Unlikely story; anyone with half a brain can see that the mom is a first-class bimbo and a big liar, too. Poor Walter, the kid, finds life with the uncles shocking; pigs and chickens attend the breakfast table, there's no phone or TV, and the primary activities are gardening and extreme harassment of traveling salesmen, who come to the farm lured by the rumors of the fabulous wealth stashed away there. Garth and Hub acquired fabulous wealth in a series of African adventures--or did they? Many people try to tell Walter that the uncles are criminals. But the uncles and Walter bond over the story of the mysterious Jasmine, and when a secondhand lion shows up at the farm (when the uncles order a superannuated zoo animal for "sport hunting") Walter finds a new friend.

  The scenes depicting the African adventures are well-handled; amusing, yet they don't overshadow the main story of the uncles and Walter. The acting is first-rate from Caine and Duvall; I didn't adore Haley Joel Osment; I thought he was stiff and unnatural, but he plays the bewildered kid fairly well and physically, he looks the part. The film does a stupendous job of subtly aging Osment as he grows up a bit in the story. Kira Sedgewick is hysterically funny as his mother. The story ends with a satisfying, if slightly sad conclusion, with the opening scenes of the uncles in a biplane coming full circle and Walter all grown up. This film is pleasing with plenty of belly-laughs and excellent supporting cast

  Image and Sound: The music occasionally booms out over the dialog, a common issue I have with 90% of films; you have to soften the sound when the music is blaring, then pump it up to hear the dialog again once the score dies down. The image was crisp and clear. The surround sound was separate and distinct; one scene had the dogs barking off the porch and it was quite distinct. The score is assisted by country Texas Cowboy classics and Doyle's piano work is sweet and pleasant.
  
  The Extras: the extras are well worth watching, most especially the deleted and altered scenes. These are a lesson in how to take an unwieldy screenplay and create a good film from what could be a mediocre one. The duality of the uncles' history (were they bankrobbers or were they adventurers in Africa) is completely changed by the deleted and altered scenes, creating an entirely different film. I couldn't believe how different the film might have been, and there was one scene I would have left in. The rest--oh, boy did they do a good job in dropping those on the cutting-room floor. The original ending is enlightening; a completely different scene was shot and not used.

  The commentary by writer-director McCanlies is important to learn why the choices were made and I was glad that not only the film had commentary, but the deleted and altered scenes as well. If you want to learn about film-making, this is quite a lesson. This was a time I was particulary grateful for the commentary on the film. The "wild ride" documentary adds to the knowledge about behind-the-scenes in Hollywood. You won't believe how long it took for this film, with a screenplay everyone in Hollywood loved, took to become a film.

  Summary: Solid family fare, good for a laugh for the whole family.
  
  

• Great..But Soured By An Overly Sentimental Ending!!!!
  By A2Z0A3DOG0EVTY on 2004-02-12
  Perception is a powerful, but misleading tool in the arsenal of human discovery. It can lead to a lot of discovery but can also mislead. Sometimes we can look at an old man, see nothing but a man past his prime, and we forget the life that he led. Sometimes we can look at an innocent, weak young boy and forget that this boy could one day be a man with lots of power. SECONDHAND LIONS is a film about perception and whether we, the audience, know what is true or not.

  Walter (Haley Joel Osmet, The Sixth Sense) is a young boy without any direction. His mother (Kyra Sedgwick, Personal Velocity) is flighty and incredibly selfish. We she seizes on an opportunity to meet a new man she drops Walter off at her great-uncles', to spend the summer with them.

  Those men are named Garth (Michael Caine, Little Voice) and Hub (Robert Duvall, The Apostle). The rumor is they have a large sum of money, and Walter's mother seems to think that if he gets all buddy- buddy with them, maybe that small fortune could one day become theirs. Walter is in for the summer of his life. A summer full of crazy adventures, a giraffe in a cornfield, swashbuckling, riveting stories of adventure, beautiful princesses, and of course, a lion named Jasmine.

  SECONDHAND LIONS is the kind of film I love. Sure it's light and fluffy, but it's also filled with interesting characters and surprises around every corner. It's a fantasy without being a cartoon, a farce with a little bit of heart. It does something very few films attempt these days. It inspires true imagination.

  Of course I have some minor squabbles. The film overstays it's welcome. Creating an ending that is far too sentimental and far too forced. After the self-discovery, you want to leave the characters to just be. SECONDHAND LIONS just sits there like a lump, giving us endless shots of the older Walter (Josh Lucas) and an old cop talking about the past. I would have preferred the film end by keeping us guessing. But alas, it has to answer the one question that lets the rest of the story down: Are the old stories true?

  Duvall and Caine are incredibly charming as Garth and Hub. Their men with more stories to tell, and yet they won't tell you unless you ask. They have this sarcastic wit about them that propels the story further. I loved the scene where Duvall's character beats up the teenagers. How cocky do some of us young people think we are? It's nice to be put in our place by a man with so many years behind his belt. Caine knows the score and plays the straight man with a subtle grace. I like how he deals with Duvall. How the characters feel like brothers, and not like two men acting.

  Writer/Director Tim McCanlies (Dancer, Texas Pop 81) has created a film that is both watch able and enchanting all at the same time. He captures rural Texas as a dustbowl of boredom, with magic hiding in the corn. My favorite shot is that of this tall giraffe that rides into focus on a flatbed truck. I loved how incredibly silly that thought was.

  SECONDHAND LIONS is worth a trip to the cinema. It's worth a night curled up by a warm fire. Sure, it's not the greatest of these kinds of movies, but for that I recommend you sit down with THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN. If you're looking for a safe and sweet trip into the past, or you love run-ins with lions, give this SECONDHAND LION a try.

  ***1/2 out of 5
  
  

• Great comedy for the family!
  By A2I3XS9TO93Q0F on 2004-03-09
  This starts out with what might be the perfect 50's era adolescent nightmare - a fourteen year old boy is dropped (dumped) by his mother in the care of her elderly (old coot) uncles... no phone... no tv... with nothing but gardening for "fun". Add to that the fact that the uncle's (played by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall) preferred method of fishing relies on the use of shotguns. The same shotguns provide a not so friendly reception for any traveling salesmen that might drive past the numerous signs of warning along the dirt road leading to their farmhouse.

  Caine and Duvall are two brothers that have returned to Texas from a 40 year absence of mystery and adventure, reputedly with a vast fortune obtained through (take your pick) chicanery, theft, deception or worse. Eccentrics with a capital "E", all we know about them for sure is that they have an indeterminate amount of money, an independent nature and little use for the rest of the modern world. Some people might criticize Caine's attempt at a Texas twang, however what would you expect from a native Texan that's spent the previous 40 years in Morocco, Kenya and other parts unknown?

  Haley Joel Osment plays "the kid" who is torn between issues of abandonment, confusion (who are these bizarre old men really?), curiosity (where is their money and how much is there?), and pure wonder (can their stories be true in any way?). Kyra Sedgwick is his mother, who quickly telescopes her real priorities by beginning every letter or converstation with "how are you doing, have you found the money yet?"

  Secondhand Lions (yes, there is some substance behind the title), didn't seem to get the attention that it deserved during it's theatrical release, and I hope that it finds a larger following in the more forgiving market of DVD and video. It's a very enjoyable comedy that will appeal to everyone in the family, a little overly sentimental in some respects; a lot outlandish in others, but it makes for great light entertainment!
  
  

• Worth Buying And Watching
  By A1ZQKZQSAXAW0U on 2005-09-18
  "Secondhand Lions" is one of those movies like "A Christmas Story". If you were lucky enough to catch it in theaters, you passed the word along that this was worth the time to see. Like "A Christmas Story", more audiences will discover how good it is by catching it on cable.
  
  It's still worth investing in the DVD, as there is something for everyone. For kids, it's safe for them to watch it on their own (although the language may be a bit rough in spots, but Duvall and Caine are playing old Texas boys, so Emily Post is out). For movie buffs, there's side by side comparison of Script to Screen. For those who want to see what didn't make it to the screen, there's alternate and deleted scenes (including one sight gag involving Walter's imagining breakfast with his two uncles - I'll say no more).
  
  Best of all, director Tim McCanlies audio commentary is insightful and smart. Unlike other DVD audio, where the director and stars end up saying "That scene was a lot of fun to do" over and over when they run out of things to say about 30 minutes into the movie, McCanlies's film is such a labor of love that what he says keeps your interest. I don't know if McCanlies will become a millionaire out of this movie, but this film will be seeing a lot of viewing time on TV and DVD long after the summer blockbusters end up in the remainder bin of your local video outlet.
  
  
• Something for Everyone.
  By A96K1ZGW56S2I on 2003-09-26
  The best way to describe SECONDHAND LIONS is that it's like an independent art film for families. The movie is a hodge-podge of genres and varies between the sublime to the parodical. The plot revolves around a young boy named Walter and how he ended up being raised by two crazy bachelor uncles in the mid 1960s. The uncles (played by Duvall and Caine) have been missing for forty years and have recently returned to Texas to live out the rest of their days. Rumor has it that the old coots have millions of stolen loot stashed away somewhere and every salesperson and relative within a thounsand miles is trying to get their hands on some of the cash.

  Children will like this movie especially for the cheesy flashback scenes that appear to be a cross between Indiana Jones and Saturday morning cartoons. However, cheesy as those scenes appear, they fit for the purposes of the film.

  The movie also has something to say about faith and honesty. In fact, this is probably the best film I've seen about faith since SIGNS. It takes faith to believe the unbelievable, but when you find out what you were believing really was true, it becomes even that much more amazing.

  Highly recommended for families, old codgers, and eccentrics like myself.
  
  

• FAMILY LOVE STORY
  By AWKEOI4153GKZ on 2004-02-10
  I watched this movie to see Haley Joel Osment now that he is grown up. The movie is so beautiful! When I watched it what stuck to my mind is that, for a person to show their love, self love is very important. Not exactly the self love that one becomes selfish. Something that we have to take care of ourselves by living a clean lifestyle, being careful, eating the proper food, etc., to prolong life because our love ones will benefit from it because there will be a longer/more time for them to be together.
  I already bought some as a gift. Nice movie.
  
  
• A Little Touching, Educational And Hilarious
  By A1ZU731IFILMV4 on 2004-11-07
  Secondhand Lions is the kind of movie that will give you the entertainment that you just need to release your tension besides gaining some pretty educational lessons from it. This movie is nice to watch and its story's good enough. It is amazing that this movie is acted by some remarkable actors such as Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and the young Haley Joel Osment.
  
  Duvall and Caine potray as the McCann brothers that dwell in the rural Texas after being dissapear for over 40 years. Their lifestyle are a little strange and they don't wish to be disturbed by anyone. They are said to have endless supply of cash and have a very mysterious history during their young age. Some say they are bank robbers during the 20's and 30's. They might also be just what they said they were about the travelling around the continents(Africa,Shanghai and many more places)and about the lovely Princess Jasmine that Hub(Duvall) met and also the story about the very powerful Sheikh in Africa. Then, Mae(Sedgwick), Walter's(Osment)irresponsible mother left him at his uncles house(McCann brothers)for the summer holidays where Walter just wished not to go.
  
  Walter then learns that his uncles aren't just ordinary people (seeing how they treat those travelling salesman by shooting them away) and he finds out about their background. After he found a picture of a beautiful women in a box, he's more eager to unravel their mysterious history. He keeps on asking his Uncle Garth about them and as day goes on, he managed to know more and more. Finally, he managed to find out everything about his 2 uncles, BUT the thing is, IS IT TRUE like what his Uncle Garth said ?
  
  In the meantime while he discovering their past, he gets some really educational speech from his Uncle Hub. Some really wonderful speech that I like the most are "A man should believe in what is worth to believe although it might not be true" and "Money and power, power and money means nothing to everyone. Only virtues that are important for a man". This lessons are indeed educational for the young Walter because he has been around his mother's LIES all the time and he doesn't know what to really believe in.
  
  At the end, when Walter's mother comes to bring him home, he tells his mother that he wished to stay with his uncles for a long period of time(at least till after he's through with college). He feels that he could learn much more by staying with his uncles rather than with his mother. The ending is wonderful when the adult Walter receives a call from a syerif telling him that his 2 uncles meet an accident while flying their plane and passed away together in their very old age(over 90 years old).
  
  Walter then gets his uncles' will saying that he gets all their money and then, the Sheikh's grandson came after the news reported about the McCann brothers. The Sheikh's grandson tells Walter that he had heard stories about the great McCann brothers from his grandfather. I feel that this part of the movie is very important to conclude the true background history of the McCann brothers. This part is also important for Walter to know the truth about his uncles that they were really the person they've said they were and not some criminals.
  
  Personally, I prefer this movie very much because everything in this movie is GREAT including the story, ending, soundtracks, the way the actors've brought their character(very appealing) and many more. EXCELLENT! Spend some time and catch this great movie. It's worth to watch!
  
  
• Outstandingly Excellent Family Film!
  By A3FXT4UPI30K7S on 2005-03-07
  Seldom have I seen a film that so thoroughly delighted all ages and both genders as SECONDHAND LIONS. This film is so entertaining that my daughters both begged me to buy it after having seen it only once... and we've watched it several times with friends who all loved it as much as we do.
  
  Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Haley Joel Osment give spectacular performances in this extremely heart-felt and hilarious story about how two aging reclusive uncles with a mysterious past care for their nephew one memorable summer. Young Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is dropped off at his uncle's sprawling Texan estate one summer day by his flighty, irresponsible mother with instructions to "find out where they hid the money," and practice smiling more. After watching his mother drive off down the dusty road with the dogs barking and chasing along behind, Walter sits down on the big wooden porch with his uncles and discovers they have no telephone... and no TV. "What do you do for fun?" Walter asks... and his uncles' answer is both surprising and funny, when a traveling salesman drives up to pitch his wares.
  
  The main mystery in this film is whether the larger-than-life stories that the uncles tell Walt of heroic deeds in exotic lands are really true... or whether they are actually dangerous bank robbers. Walter discovers that sometimes the facts don't matter nearly as much as the qualities described by Duvall's character in a "long speech I give young men." It's delightful to watch Walter gain a sense of confidence and trust in the world, as his eccentric uncles do their best to share things they most enjoy with their young nephew.
  
  This film gets its name from a memorable experience when the uncles purchase a lion "second-hand" as part of plan to do some big game hunting... and then make the discovery that this used lioness arrives in no shape to provide proper sport. When Walter offers that he can nurse the lioness back to health, he finds more courage and strength than he'd ever had a chance to demonstrate before.
  
  Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment give truly extraordinary performances that will be long remembered in SECONDHAND LIONS. This is a movie that will steal your heart as it refreshes your spirits... and one you'll probably want to buy rather than rent or borrow. It really is that good!
  
  
• 8 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By A2JCDEK5UVKU1Q on 2005-06-27
  I can't remember the last time a movie had me laughing out loud one minute and wiping the tears the next - this movie is a RARITY in Hollywood! Watch the extras to see why it took the writer over 10 years to find a Hollywood Studio that would finance the film without rewriting it into another cheap re-make of films gone by. His persistance and raw guts paid off and what a jewel it is! The extras are GREAT!!! I thoroughly enjoyed "One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood" - a synopsis of the film's journey from script to fruition. It's a plain shame more films like this don't get made.... and Hollywood wonders why ticket sales are sagging and box office numbers are the lowest in years!?!? The BIGGEST selling movies of all time are almost all FAMILY movies - yet Hollywood continues to churn out the same rehashed, mindlessly redundant garbage time after time after time aimed solely at pubescent teens. Hats off to New Line Cinema once again (i.e. Lord of the Rings) for being the LEADER they are and not just another Hollywood follower! Congratulations on an outstanding film!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• Caine and Duvall are great
  By A1U0HC6Z37DUZ0 on 2004-02-09
  This is a great movie, running somewhat in the same vein as Grumpy Old Men, only this time they throw a kid into the mix and it all somehow softens up. Who wouldn't enjoy a movie about two old war-horses sitting on their porch during retirement, blasting their shotguns at every two-bit salesperson who comes along to take a crack at their well-hidden wealth? The movie is supposed to be about learning to trust, and the importance of believing in good things, even if they may not actually be true, i.e. "good always triumphs over evil". But it's not all serious drama. It's presented in a way that will keep you laughing the whole time.
  
  
• A Little Goes A Long Way
  By A2EAKBF8SYV3DD on 2004-03-09
  I have read many other reviews on this movie and most of them miss the mark by about 2476 miles (according to my gps). Second Hand Lions is a movie about the importance of mentorship and how much so little can mean to a young soul growing up in an ever confusing world. Sometimes the right gaze, look, touch, or smile can send someone on to their destiny. What a great gift to have been given by our Lord, the power to inspire.

  Walter is a young teenager living with his mother that has done nothing in her life but bounce from one man to the other. She is a pathological liar with no concept of the truth, she believes her own lies and rationalizes them in any way she deems appropriate. May (Walters Mother) drops him off at his great uncles home for the summer while once again, she is off on an escapade while claiming to be at Court Reporting school in Fort Worth.

  Now Walter's two Uncles are two true characters of the world having lived long full lifes. These days however, they both feel somewhat depleted and useless while they just pass the time away waiting for their own endings.

  Robert Duvall is playing one of the great uncles, Hub, who feels his life is over as he lost the love of his life over 40 years ago. Hub is a hard core soul that tells it like it is and you cannot help but respect that quality. Michael Caine is playing Walters other great uncle, Garth, who is a little bit more of a thinker than a reactor, and see's his brother killing himself before his time. Although Garth has attempted to ease Hub's pain, he is unable to break through the hard exterior of a man that has fought so many wars in his life, he knows only one way.

  That brings us to the young Walter being played by Haley Joel Osment (the kid that see's dead people in the Sixth Sense). Walter is a young wide open kid who is only seeking honesty and love. One night Walter explains to Hub that he has been told so many lies in his life, he has to have the truth (Walter has questions about how Hub and Garth obtained their wealth as everyone in town has their own opinion on this). But, Hub explains to the young Walter, what is true may not be as important as what we choose to believe in. He tells the young man the most important things that you should always believe in, no matter what.

  In the end, Walter has his questions answered about his uncles and where they acquired their much debated wealth. It is a moment that we have all lived for, but few have seldom received. A truly happy hopeful movie, a movie of faith.

  You must see it, trust me, don't view it as a critic and your heart will smile....
  
  

• Phenomenal movie, lots of DVD bonus features
  By A3TKGM2JJJC1I3 on 2004-05-05
  Oh, wow!!! This was a fantastic movie and definitely a good one to own AND give as gifts. The DVD has lots of features including an alternate ending longer than the one that was actually used. I am still not sure which ending I liked best.

  This is TRULY a family movie that the whole family will just adore. Walter (Haley Osment) has one of those moms who looks pretty but is about as substantial as a fistful of sand. Under the pretense that she is going to a court reporting school and can't take care of Walter, she drops him off with his eccentric, reclusive and rich uncles Garth (Michael Caine) and Hub (Robert Duvall). Everyone knows that the two old coots have tons of money but no one agrees on how they got it. Though most think that they robbed banks in their youth, Garth spins a beautiful tale to Walter of how they were abducted into the French Foreign Legion and stayed on in Morocco to fight wars and win their fortune. They spend their time target practicing on traveling salesmen until Walter convinces them to start spending some of their money. From vegetable gardens to second hand lions, they have a whale of a summer getting to know each other. Walter is smitten with his uncles and they with him. When Walter's mother returns, he will be forced to choose whether to believe the fanciful stories of his uncles that are so inextricably tied up with who they are and their relationship to each other or to believe the more realistic sounding stories of the envious relations with disastrous results.

  Don't miss the alternate/deleted scenes either. There were a lot of side stories or running jokes that had been intended and then were mostly cut out. For instance, substianting evidence that the two had actually been bank robbers deepens Walter's dilemma in who to believe but that was for some reason cut out. There is virtually a whole other movie in the deleted and alternate scenes. This is a great, great movie that should take its place beside films like Old Yeller and Wizard of Oz on the shelf of American Family Classics.
  
  

• Wow (for sure)
  By A25W9FCAT9ATSZ on 2004-07-13
  I cannot understand why Amazon uses paid reviewers who are afraid to like the films they review and don't even bother to see many of them, as indicated by the errors of fact in the second quoted review. Make no mistake, folks, this is the real thing: a truly mesmerizing family film that is able to be humorous, scary, thrilling and inspiring - frequently all at the same time. How many years has it been since three generations of your family were able to repeatedly laugh and cheer loudly for a film? This is in the rare class of films that will go on and on, like Wizard of Oz, Shane, Dragonslayer, High Noon, Miracle on 34th Street, and a very few others, except that it is better than several of them. It is a film for all time and all ages. It is definitely not just a "kid's picture". Perhaps I am partial to "modern legends." I think we all are.
  
  
• Respect Your Elders
  By A5TZXWU8AALIC on 2004-12-15
  A friend of mine insisted that I watch this movie and then, after watching it, I realized this was going to be one of those films that builds an audience through word of mouth.
  Because I'm going to get the people I know to watch it.
  
  There are some good laughs here. The best kind that come from rich characterizations and great acting.
  I also admit that I was moved by a couple of scenes (and I'm not easily moved) between two wily old codgers and a little boy desperate to be loved. You start out thinking they're dangerous coots and then, about midway through, you wish they were your uncles. Kudos to Robert Duvall and Michael Caine for adding more great additions to their long line of characters.
  
  I'm not really into "family films" at all but, when they work like this, they're just a great film period.
  
  
  
• Best movie since the Disney classics of the 60s.
  By A2YEHISEUQY9PF on 2005-09-14
  With impeccable direction and acting, this story is brought to life for enjoyment by the whole family. A boy growing up without a father figure, and with a mother who cannot get any traction in life, is delivered to a pair of batchelor uncles to spend the summer. His assignment is to discover and report where these uncles hide their wealth. Instead, he discovers the father(s) he never had and the mentors he so desperately needs to grow into manhood. Without any capitulation to current social trends and fads, and without sappy sentimentality, the meaning and value of family is portrayed, skillfully interwoven with fantastic tales of adventure. This movie is a must-see by everyone from Cubscouts to grandparents.
  
  
• Touches the bottom of human hearts.
  By A1D8PPGWOHS3YN on 2006-05-27
  This movie is a touching one.
  
  As many people already gave the plot synopsis, I'm not going to repeat the same things over again. This movie is deep. It made me think a lot about my life. And I'm sure it will make YOU think. The movie shows that everyone has his/her secret, like Rovert Duvall's character, he has a past that he doesn't really want to tell anybody, which is the love life of his, and Michael Caine, who is actually a coward whose life has been saved many times by Robert Duvall, and Haley Joel Osment, whose mother constantly uses him to get money.
  
  Another reason why the movie is so touching is because the little things and details in the movie are so realistic, you actually believe that those things can happen in real life, the emotions and expressions the characters have are so real. And you can see the changes in Robert Duvall and Michael Caine's characters, the changes weren't drastic at all, not at all, they were small, gradual changes that happened over a long period of time, that's what makes the movie touching. Because of Haley Joel Osment's character, Duvall and Caine felt love again, they gave their trust to a little kid that they've only lived with for a few months.
  
  The whole movie was fantastic. But I would have to say that one of the best parts of the movie is the ending, when the adult Walter (Haley Joel Osment's character) received the news of his two uncles (Duvall and Caine)'s death, and went to see their plane crash site. Although it's a sad thing that they died, and their deaths is part of the reason why the ending makes you cry, but it's also touching because they died the way they wanted, they died happily and satisfied, you cry but at the same time you smile when you watch the ending.
  
  Good movie, everyone should watch it!
  
  
• Well wriiten..............
  By A1F68F25W7SI1E on 2003-09-21
  movie that just when you think you have it figured out, they surprise you. I am a Robert Duvall fan and he is as good as ever as the eccentric Uncle Hub. Michael Caine is fantastic as the odd Uncle Garth but he can't quite exchange his english dialect for a Texas accent. The entire family will enjoy the story of a young boy (Walter) who is left by his irresponisble mother to stay the summer with his two unusual uncles who have just returned after 40 years of being who knows where. As the old coots warm up to Walter, they reveal their unusual past and give Walter the first "stable" home he has ever known. Go see it.
  
  
• Secondhand Lions - an old fashioned movie for all
  By A3C2DWDQF908QH on 2003-09-22
  Secondhand Lions was made without blazing sirens, blood letting, or aliens.
  And it is probably the best movie I have seen in years. It has the touch of an old fashioned movie, and it touches your heart and soul like no other has for a very long time!
  Michael Caine and Robert Duvall play understated but powerful roles as the crusty old great uncles who have their great-nephew hoisted on them by a mother with only her own personal gain in mind. But as the movie unfolds; the lives they have led, and the struggles they are finding 'growing old gracefully', along with a hidden compassion and warmth that they show a lonely displaced young boy is wonderful.
  Haley Joel Osment plays the young boy - and he does so with such keen emotion and depth that it is heartfelt.
  The movie made me cry and laugh at the same time. The bittersweet ending left me sitting in my seat, silently willing the movie to start again so I did not have to leave.
  
  

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