 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Secondhand Lions
- Review Date: February 5, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 2003
Common Sense Media says
Charming family movie for tweens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has "action violence," but it's cartoon-style and not graphic. There are some tense family issues and sad deaths.
What's the story?
In SECONDHAND LIONS, Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is dumped on the unwelcoming front porch of his two great-uncles, Hub (Robert Duvall) and Garth (Michael Caine) by his flighty mother (Kyra Sedgewick) so she can go to school and learn how to be a court reporter. She tells him that they disappeared 40 years earlier and just mysteriously returned. The rumor is that they have money hidden away somewhere, and she tells Walter to see if he can find it. Hub and Garth are not used to taking care of anyone. They tell Walter that if he needs anything he should find it himself or, better yet, do without it. Walter is not used to being taken care of. His mother has had a series of worthless or abusive boyfriends. When he calls the school to try to talk to her, he runs through a whole list of aliases before finding out that she has lied to him again and never even enrolled.
Is it any good?
Duvall and Caine have such easy charm that they make this movie work, though it sags when anyone else is on screen, including the flashbacks of their adventures in Africa and Osment's struggles to find his character and manage his adolescent voice.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about their own best advice for children about growing up and about the importance of having role models. They could also talk about Hub's view that sometimes it is important to believe in things whether they are true or not.
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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Disturbing violence
It's clear that the mother is loose and has had a string of male companions, and we see how this has impacted Walter. I would caution parents about the violence -- one when the mother and her new boyfriend arrive, and her boyfriend chases Walter down, straddles him, and punches him -- which we see at a bit of a distance, which didn't make it any less disturbing. The other scene follows immediately, when Walter's pet lion pounces on the boyfriend and mauls him. The blood and gore takes place just below the screen, but viewers know what's going on.
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AGE
A smart and very cleaver film.
Second Hand Lions is enjoyable and a very fun movie to watch. Every Family should see this movie.
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AGE
A Great Family Movie!
SECONDHAND LIONS is one of my favorite movies for a lot of reasons. It has great acting, a great story, and great messages. And it's devoid of objectionable content. The Caine and Duvall characters say "d**n" and "a*s" a few times, and some scenes can be somewhat intense, but all are without graphic violence. Highly recommended.
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AGE
Great actors and great movie
I loved this movie. Two wacky old men and a wonderful kid. Such an honest handling of death. Ending was a bit bizarre . . . but amusing.
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AGE
Humorous and Sweet
There are many lessons to learn from two crotchity old men. And there are even a few lessons for two crotchity old men to learn. This is a sweet movie with a nice view about death and the circle of life. About following one's heart and how one might look at things. While the shooting at the travelling salesmen scene was amusing, it was also a little disturbing.
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AGE
Extra, Extra -- see all about it -- see this movie!
This movie made you think that death is a part of life. It was really touching. It was the best movie I've seen in a long time. I want to get the DVD when it comes out. I saw it with my friend and I think she was crying too. My dad liked it too.
-- viewer, aged 10
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AGE
Terrific Family Favorite
We love it! The love that develops between a boy and his two crazy uncles is touching. Mixed with the action & adventure really makes it a feel good, fun movie. Our kids --boys & girls --were equally entertained.
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| Topics: | misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Tim McCanlies |
| Cast: | Haley Joel Osment, Michael Caine, Robert Duvall |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 111 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 19, 2003 |
| DVD release date: | February 3, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic material, language and action violence |
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