Secondhand Lions

This may be the greatest coming of age story ever told. This story revolves around a boy who is abandoned by his mother on his great uncles farm. He has never met these Uncles and they have never met him, but what are they to do? Hub (Duvall) contemplated just leaving him on the porch, but the more level headed brother, Garth (Caine) felt an obligation to this boy. As they state later on, It's not his fault she's his mother, or something to that effect. Once a rapport is developed between him and Hub and Garth, he begins to ask questions, as any 14 year old boy with no TV would. It was his inquisitiveness that leads to him learning about his Uncles' many adventures together, and the riches they have aquired. These are great stories, and he is always waiting to hear the next one. One day he asks Hub the wrong question about a subject he does not want to get into, and he now has to deal with Hub's bad attitude towards him. That doesn't stop him from finding out Hub's secret, a girl named Jasmine. Eventually the boys mother shows back up, and soon he realizes why he is actually there. There are rumors that Hub and Garth are sitting on boo-koos of $$$$. Unfortunately for the boy, this is all his mother and her new boyfriend care about. They tell him that his Uncles are criminals, and they stole that money. Their logic is, if they stole it, it's not actually theirs, so we should take it. This puts all kinds of doubts in the boys head about the character, and stories his Uncles have told him. He has been lied to his entire life and if his Uncles lied to him, he feels there is no hope for him to have a normal childhood. He doesn't care about the money, he just wants a better life experience. He knows the only way he gets a decent life is to stick by his Uncles, so he does just that. The movie does a great job of portraying what an abandoned 14 year old boy would be feeling, and also how some sixty something year old men would react to having to raise this kid they don't know. His Uncle Hub never really wants to stop adventuring and so he doesn't. Garth is more laid back and has planted several different crops in his personal garden to ease his mind, so he thinks. Without even knowing it's happening, this boy has brought new life to these old codgers. Eventually they realize the boy has saved them from growing old and boring. He has breathed life back into their souls, and they will come to appreciate it. I still remember how I felt the first time I was watching this. I couldn't believe how awesome it was, then again I cannot think of a film Robert Duvall has been in, that hasn't been great. This movie is a must own for yourself, but especially if you have kids. They will love it for their reasons, and you will love it for entirely different reasons.  One day I'd hoped I would have a son and my two brothers would be his adventurous Uncles always teaching him new things, unfortunately my brothers are both tremendous douche bags. So now I do have a son, and don't know what to do with him. Douchey, Douchey Brothers.

NBM rates Secondhand Lions - Phenomenal


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