Secondhand Lion is a family movie. It is about family relationship, truth and virtue, growing up and growing old. In around 1960s, Walter visits his uncles, Garth and Hub, in their farmland in Taxes, and he finds out his uncles’ heroic stories in the World War One. The director, Tim McCanlies knows how to capture different moments which make the viewers laugh their heads off, and get on everybody’s nerves. The role Walter is played by a young, excellent actor, Haley Joel Osment, who did pretty well in acting a timid but curious boy.
The story begins when Walter’s mother, Mae, leaves him to his rich, distant uncles, Uncle Garth and Uncle Hub. They do not know good relationship at first, but after some days, they both have great influences on each other. They do lots of things together in their farmland, like planting. They have a lion, an aero plane and many interesting things. Walter’s uncles enjoy the rest of their days, while Walter learns a lot from his uncles, he also listens to their absorbing old stories. Time flies and nice things never last, Walter’s mother is back. This time she is with a greedy man who wants his uncles’ money, and she also wants Walter back. Walter needs to make decisions on whether trusting his uncles, or leaving them.
The three roles of the main characters played by Haley Joel Osment (Walter), Robert Duvall (Hub) and Michael Caine(Garth) were incredibly outstanding. They did a brilliant job in expressing the roles’ complicated emotions. It is especially touching to the viewers in the scene of Walter embracing his uncles. Their abundant facial expressions show all their feelings, and we can see that they are already missing each other.
The background music is rather impressing. They appear in the joint of each scene and the beginning of each scene. These are very helpful in regulating the viewers’ emotions. For example, a long, miserable slow song is played in the scene of Uncle Hub in a hospital, just when the viewers began to feel sad and uncomfortable, a cheerful and joyful song is substituted, so this gives the viewers hope of Uncle Hub’s recovery.
The stories are easy to follow as there are no major twists in the plot. The ending is creative despite the death of Walter’s uncles. Tim McCanlies made it hilarious too! The theme is mainly about family relationship which everybody is suitable for it.
However, some viewers may find it too scary of the scenes Uncle Hub fight with the Shriek and the young people in the bar. They may find it uncomfortable to watch the whole fighting since the violence are far too thrilling.
Another problem is that there are a few dirty words and foul languages throughout the movie. It is not quite suitable for young viewers and this may have bad influences on them.
On the whole, this is a better-than-average family movie and I will give it seven out of ten. The movie is enjoyable and worth seeing. Don’t forget to invite your family and your friends while enjoying it!