Secondhand Lions

2003

Secondhand Lions

Critics Consensus

A wholesome but schmaltzy movie.

60%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 136

84%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 65,660
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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 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. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    PG (for thematic material, language and action violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family
  • Directed By:
    Tim McCanlies
  • Written By:
    Tim McCanlies
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $41,407,470
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    New Line Cinema

Cast

Michael Caine
as Garth
Robert Duvall
as Hub
Haley Joel Osment
as Walter
Kyra Sedgwick
as Mae
Nicky Katt
as Stan
Josh Lucas
as Adult Walter
Michael O'Neill
as Ralph
Deirdre O'Connell
as Helen
Kevin Michael Haberer
as Young Garth
Eric Balfour
as Sheik's Grandson
Christian Kane
as Young Hub
Kevin Haberer
as Young Garth
Emmanuelle Vaugier
as Jasmine
Adam Ozturk
as The Sheik
Jennifer Stone
as Martha
Mitchel Musso
as Boy
Marc Musso
as Boy
Joe Stevens
as Insurance Salesman
Charles Sanders
as Gold Salesman
Morgana Shaw
as Receptionist
Adrian Pasdar
as Skeet Machine Salesman
Dameon Clarke
as Animal Truck Driver
Jason Douglas
as Helper
Rick Dial
as Feed Store Owner
George Haynes
as Farmer
Jo Harvey Allen
as Woman in Hospital
Eugene Osment
as Doctor
Jace Pitre
as Frankie
Travis Willingham
as Hood
Brian Stanton
as Hood
Kanin J. Howell
as Hood
Billy Joe Shaver
as Biplane Truck Driver
Dennis Letts
as Sheriff
Daniel Brooks
as Sheik's Great-Grandson
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Critic Reviews for Secondhand Lions

All Critics (136) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (81) | Rotten (55)

  • Schmaltzed up, dumbed down, bombastically-scored family drama of touchy-feely life lessons.

    Oct 28, 2003 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Jamie Russell

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

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

    Sep 22, 2003

    Richard Roeper

    Ebert & Roeper
    Top Critic

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

    Sep 19, 2003

    Michael O'Sullivan

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • It's pretty appalling, and it's boring.

    Sep 19, 2003

    Stephen Hunter

    Washington Post
    Top 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.

    Sep 19, 2003 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • Secondhand Lions is a movie you want to believe in -- original ideas, acclaimed actors -- but McCanlies uses too many broad strokes when subtlety and finesse would have had greater impact.

    Sep 19, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Erik Lundegaard

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (136)

Audience Reviews for Secondhand Lions

  • Jun 28, 2011
    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.
    Dead A Super Reviewer
  • Sep 11, 2010
    A richly developed tale that plays on multiple levels with flights of whimsy, but never wonders too far from the heart. Haley Joe Osment is left by his single mother Kira Sedgwick with her two bothers on a broken down farm filled with a pack of dogs. Michael Caine and Robert Duvall bring all of their considerable skill to fill out the characters his down to earth yet worldly rich uncles. Osment observant and old beyond his years is initially annoyed by being left behind by his mother bonds with his uncles when he discovers a picture of Emanual Vauglier and shows it to Caine. Caine explains that his was Hubs love and goes on to explain a story that Hub was a cross between a Young Indiana Jones and Arabian nights. The elderly eccentric uncle find amusement where they can, one of the central distractions is when Caine purchases a Lion so the men can hunt it on there property. Like most of there plans it’s not well thought trough. The Lion they purchase is old and decrepit. Osment nurses the lion back to health. This is a really excellent feel good movie that makes even a big lug like me cry. I wish we could all pass on Hub’s wisdom and die like a real Africa lion.
    Bill C Super Reviewer
  • Apr 22, 2010
    Although it might strike some viewers as bland, it is actually a beautiful, clever movie with a strong story line.
    Jason L Super Reviewer
  • Apr 03, 2010
    Better than expected. Haley Joel Osment is a little goofy at times, but some of the moments with Michael Caine and Robert Duvall are pretty funny.
    Flutie A Super Reviewer
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