One of my favorite movies of all time. This is a feel good, great for the whole family and loved by viewers of all ages. I went into this movie not knowing anything about it, and was surprised to find that I'd stumbled upon something special... Next time you're in the mood for a feel good film that will make you smile, just watch it!

Michael Caine and Robert Duvall are the "Secondhand Lions" in this 2003 film featuring Haley Joel Osment, Kyra Sedgwick and Josh Lucas.Set in 1962, Caine and Duvall are brothers Garth and Hub, in their fifties when the film begins. They live an isolated life with five dogs and a pig on a farm. They mostly sit on the porch with rifles and shoot at salespeople -- the word is out that Garth and Hub have amassed a fortune.This knowledge attracts unwelcome relatives to the farm as well. One day their floozie niece (Sedgwick) drops off her quiet, sad son Walter and heads for a courtroom transcriber school. So she says. What she wants is for Walter to find their uncles' money while she's away.Garth and Hub don't want Walter, but soon, the boy begins to enjoy himself. One day a salesman comes to offer Garth and Hub a skeet shooter. They're about to pull their guns when Walter says, What good is money if you don't spend it? Soon the men are buying all kinds of things, including new clothes for yard work for themselves and Walter, seeds for planting, and a lion they plan on shooting. The lion they get is female and old - and they don't end up shooting it.Walter finds a photo of a beautiful woman in his room and asks Garth about it. Garth tells Walter stories about the mens' adventures when they were young, which include fighting off a sheikh in a distant land and saving the fair Jasmine, whom Hub marries and is the woman in the photo. But she's not there now, and Walter wonders what happened to her.What a beautiful film that shows the power of love and connection as these two grouches, considering their lives over, save this boy, bounced around while his mother finds new boyfriends, and how he enriches theirs. There is a great deal of humor and poignancy here. This is so much more than a family film. You have two stellar actors, Caine and Duval, for one thing, a beautiful performance by Osment, and excellent supporting players, particularly Sedgwick, a favorite of mine.I've probably seen about 4500 films in my life, most of which are reviewed by me on IMDb. Discounting the classics of the Golden Era and just taking the post-1960 films, I think some of the best were Road to Perdition, Phoenix, No Country for Old Men, Interiors, Remember, Divided We Fall, Run Lola Run -- in the end, maybe 25 stick out as being special. This is one.I think today with so much turmoil around us, we need to get in touch with some simpler values and take a break from all of the dark films and the CGI technique once in a while. There is nothing hokey about this film, and I highly recommend it.

A well-crafted, coming-of-age story that reflects upon the importance of belief in the face of cynicism which simultaneously reflects upon the fear of obsolescence encountered by elders. The 3 lead actors Robert Duval, Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment each bring an inherent likability to their characters that raises what could otherwise be a slightly saccharin script to a perfect level of sweetness without going overboard. And Kyra Sedgewick brings such charm and energy to an otherwise unlikable role that one can almost accept her and her behavior.The flashbacks revelations are intentionally cartoonish so that the audience is let to question the accuracy of their basis just as Mr. Osment's character does. It is only when facts are later exposed in the film that the question is resolved for Mr. Osment and the audience.This film shows once again that Hollywood can make great character-based films. I am not sure how this one slipped under my radar for so long.

Even though I watch a whole lot of movies, almost everything that has a rating of 6.8 or above, surprisingly, this is my first and only review in IMDb, written to appreciate a gem of a film which deserves to be watched by everyone. The comedy in this movie is a class apart. And apart from laughing like crazy, you will also learn a thing or two about living life king size and taking it easy. Its like; at the beginning you have no clue what the movie is gonna be about, and then as the movie progresses, the characters and storyline absorbs you in a tale of classic adventure of two country wise guys teaching a kid the fun of living life with heart, passion and to the fullest. The performances are believable! The tale is extraordinary! This movie can definitely be watched with family, friends or with your girl on a happy date. Cheers!