A Film Favorite for Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! If you're spending the day at home with family and thinking of sitting down to watch a nice movie together, New Line Cinema's Secondhand Lions (2003) is one film I highly suggest.



Secondhand Lions is a film about a shy boy named Walter (Haley Joel Osment), who grows up over a summer spent with two of his old, rough-around-the-edges, carefree uncles (Robert Duvall, Michael Caine). The story opens with Walter's mother dumping him off with his uncles Hub and Garth, who have never seen Walter before, and are NOT interested in looking after him. The uncles are bachelors who don't have kids of their own, aren't looking for any more responsibility, and just want to be left alone. Walter isn't keen on the idea of staying with his uncles either, but has no other choice, and is left to adapt to his new environment.



 

At first, Walter is aloof, and the uncles are indifferent to Walter's company. During the summer however, the boy and his uncles begin to bond. Walter starts to engage Uncle Hub and Garth by asking them to tell him stories about their adventures when they were young. As he learns more about his two uncles, Walter begins to appreciate the time he spends with them, and the uncles start to enjoy their nephew's company.

Secondhand Lions is a very heartwarming story, as it follows the development of the relationship between Walter and his uncles. Although they are family, they initially saw each other as completely alien. The boy was too much of a weakling for his tough-as-nails uncles, and the uncles were too rugged for their scared-of-his-own-shadow nephew. Over the summer, the three become more responsible for one another, and as such, their love of family grows. The uncles begin to understand that Walter's previous home life has been unstable and teach him about what he can make of his life through their stories. The lessons Walter learns from uncles Hub and Garth about life and love help him develop into a more confident boy, while the admiration Walter shows for his uncles, helps them remember the importance of love.

Here's a clip of Uncle Hub giving Walter a piece of his What Every Boy Needs To Know About Being A Man speech:

Tim McCanlies wrote and directed this film. It was released in 2003, and I consider it one of the more modern American classics. Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures are so important when growing up and learning about life and how to find one's place in the world. The best father figures encourage our dreams and support us with advice and wisdom they've gained from their own life experiences. Secondhand Lions highlights this special bond and the impact a father (or in this case two elderly uncles) can have on a kid. It's a great movie to watch with the family today, to reflect on the fun times you've had with one another, and honor the father who has made an impression on your life.

Everyone needs a person who cares for and loves them, who is anxious for them to succeed, who provides guidance, and who is there throughout the good times and the bad. Don't forget to thank the father/grandpa/uncle/family friend/relative/role model who was that person for you! Happy Father's Day 2013!

Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment, and Michael Caine