Secondhand Lions (2003)
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An introverted boy is sent to live with his eccentric great uncles on a Texas farm, where he discovers their mysterious past and a hidden fortune.
The story
In 1962, 14-year-old Walter is sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer on a ramshackle Texas farm owned by his reclusive, bachelor great uncles, Hub and Garth. The men are rumored to possess a secret fortune from past adventures and are frequently targeted by traveling salesmen. While Walter initially feels unwelcome, he eventually begins to bond with his uncles and their environment. The situation becomes complicated when the boys decide to spend some of their wealth on a lion for a hunting target, which turns out to be a tame, retired circus lioness who becomes Walter's companion.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1962, 14-year-old Walter is sent to a Texas farm to live with his eccentric great uncles, Hub and Garth, who are rumored to have a secret fortune. Walter eventually convinces them to spend some money, leading to the acquisition of a retired circus lioness who becomes his pet. A subplot reveals the uncles' past in the French Foreign Legion and their marriage to an Arab princess. When Walter's mother arrives with a man claiming the uncles are bank robbers, a confrontation occurs. The lioness dies defending Walter from the man's violence. Walter leaves with his mother but later returns to the farm after the uncles pass away. Seventeen years later, Walter inherits their fortune. A man arrives, revealing that his own grandfather was the 'wealthy sheik' from the uncles' stories, and Walter confirms that his uncles truly lived.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tim McCanlies
- Writers
- Tim McCanlies · writer
- Cast and characters
- Haley Joel Osment · Walter; Robert Duvall · Hub; Michael Caine · Garth; Kyra Sedgwick · Mae; Nicky Katt · Stan; Josh Lucas · Adult Walter
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- coming-of-age; friendship; old age
- Tone and mood
- wholesome
- Premise and plot tags
- dysfunctional families; lions
- Reception
- The film received mixed to positive reviews, described as a wholesome but schmaltzy movie. It holds a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 52 out of 100 on Metacritic, with an 'A' grade from CinemaScore audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 61% · review count: 135
- Production trivia
- The film features a comic strip titled 'Walter and Jasmine' as the work of the grown-up Walter.; The artwork for the comic was provided by cartoonist Berkeley Breathed.; The original artist for the artwork, Korey Coleman, was replaced at the last minute.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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