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Secondhand Lions (2003)

tomatometer

59

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 133
Fresh: 79 | Rotten: 54

A wholesome but schmaltzy movie.

35

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 31
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 20

A wholesome but schmaltzy movie.

audience

82

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 62,061

My Rating

Movie Info

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

PG, 1 hr. 47 min.

Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy

Tim McCanlies

Feb 3, 2004

$41.4M

New Line Cinema

Cast

All Critics (143) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (83) | Rotten (56) | DVD (26)

... Michael Caine is badly miscast in this movie. I didn't believe him for one second in that role.

September 22, 2003 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Of little interest to anyone except those who thought Air Bud was too smutty.

September 19, 2003 Comment
Washington Post
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It's pretty appalling, and it's boring.

September 19, 2003 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Secondhand Lions manages to squander the services of seasoned vets Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, and promising newcomer Haley Joel Osment, with a tale that is dramatically false and disturbingly vicious.

September 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment (1)
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

[A] schmaltz fest.

September 19, 2003 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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Lions' iron whimsy is a jackhammer on the heart.

September 19, 2003 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Charming family movie for tweens and up.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

...worth watching, even if it does get more than a bit drippy toward the end. (Blu-ray Edition)

November 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...may wander near and far, mixing down-home hokum with gushy sentiment, yet it generally succeeds in winning us over.

November 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Duval and Caine make the film watchable, but there's too much gunplay for the movie to truly be the child-friendly entertainment that it pretends.

June 13, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment (1)
ColeSmithey.com

Lions will appeal to a more mature audience because of the solid acting duo of Caine and Duvall. It will also appeal to children because of its almost mythological feel.

October 11, 2006 Comment

Most 'family films' aim too low. Perhaps there should be hearty applause for one that tries to do too much good in its small space of time.

December 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Looking Closer | Comment
Looking Closer

My only reservation about Caine is his less than credible Texas accent, especially since his brother's is so pronounced.

October 15, 2004 Full Review | Comment

A family film that won't really please anyone in the family.

August 14, 2004 Comment (1)

To see Osment react to a door closing is akin to watching someone get defibrillated.

March 26, 2004 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comments (2)
Film Freak Central

It's a very enjoyable, cute, inoffensive film that's actually family friendly without being pablum. So that's a rarity.

March 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com | Comment
Needcoffee.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Secondhand Lions

The starting looked like it was going to be hella boring but surprisingly, it wasn't. It was one of those movies that gets interesting in every minute. Really good movie. Recommend everyone to watch.

June 28, 2011
3niR
Dead Angel

Super Reviewer

Secondhand Lions tries too hard to appeal to a family friendly crowd, and because of it it loses much of its bite. But when it lets go of its reins it can really turn into something magical.

June 17, 2007
jennifxu

Super Reviewer

    1. Walter: I'm going to go inside and watch television.
    2. Garth McCaan: Ain't got one.
    3. Walter: No television?
    – Submitted by Alyssa B (5 months ago)

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