Secondhand Lions

2003 Comedy Drama

In this family-friendly comedy drama, Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is a shy and bookish boy just short of his teens whose mother impulsively decides to leave him for the summer with his eccentric grand-uncles, Hub (Robert Duvall) and Garth (Michael Caine). Walter isn't especially happy about being left in the middle of Texas with two old men, while Hub and Garth aren't too pleased to be stuck minding a boy, especially one who isn't accustomed to hunting, fishing, or firearms. When Walter starts hearing local gossip about his uncles' wild and wooly pasts, he begins asking a few questions, and while Hub and Garth don't enjoy having the boy poking into their pasts, as they start telling tales of their youthful adventures, they find themselves itching for some new adventures in their lives. Soon Walter is a semi-willing accomplice as his elderly guardians rediscover the wild, impulsive spirit of youth. Secondhand Lions was produced in part by the well-respected visual effects house Digital Domain, who also helped create the imagery for the film's flashback sequences. more..

Director: Tim McCanlies

Starring: Michael Caine,Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment, Kyra Sedgwick, Nicky Katt

Reviews

  • A gentle and sweet whimsy, attentive to the love between the two brothers, respectful of the boy's growth and curiosity.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • Awash in nostalgia, "Lions" combines a gentle coming-of-age story with swashbuckling fantasy. While it lacks a necessary tension in its establishing scenes and might be too soft for those who prefer grittier fare.

    Sheri Linden - The Hollywood Reporter

    27 April 2013

  • With no baseline ''truth'' to be found among the cartoony characters and cheesy twists, the whole production feels like a Texas-size load of secondhand lyin'.

    - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • Coming-of-age schmaltz fest.

    Edward Guthmann - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 April 2013

  • The movie, though predictable and formulaic, is not that simple, although it might have been better off had it been so basic. It interweaves clichés from several other genres and ends up a mishmash of stories.

    Claudia Puig - USA Today

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Animation/Family

    Golden Trailer Awards (2004)

     
  • Best Live Action Family Film

    Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards (2004)

     
  • Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor

    Young Artist Awards (2004)