Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Secondhand Lions Blu-ray Movie Review

An unexpectedly likable family film earns a problematic Blu-ray release...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 4, 2009

It would be easy to breeze past Secondhand Lions, leaving it behind in search of meatier catalog fare. But that would be a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I know it looks like a saccharine family film loaded with heartstrings and life lessons -- that's exactly what it is -- but its sweet-natured sense of humor, strong veteran performances, period setting, and affectionate spirit help it stand apart from similar genre drivel. And even though it's a film that will resonate with some far more than others, particularly those raised by absentee parents or elderly relatives, it has broader appeal, tapping into filmfans' childhood memories of everything from pantomimed swashbuckling to the original Indiana Jones trilogy, from restless summers to Old Yeller. If it sounds like I'm mounting a defense of what many will consider to be a contrived, coming-of-age tearjerker, it's because I am. But sometimes I grow weary of my own cinematic cynicism. Sometimes it's refreshing to approach a film as I would have when I was fourteen. Sometimes it's nice to simply sit back, sink in, and enjoy a charming tale for what it is.

Every kid needs a lion...

Sent to live with his gruff, shotgun-wielding uncles, Hub (Robert Duvall) and Garth McCann (Michael Caine), for a sweltering '60s summer, fourteen-year-old Walter Coleman (Haley Joel Osment) isn't sure what to make of his new stomping grounds. His uncles are an odd pair, to say the least. Grizzled World War I vets rumored to possess a hidden fortune, the former adventurers (imagine an elderly Indiana Jones and Marcus Brody had Spielberg and Lucas not killed one and shoved the other into a refrigerator) are prone to chasing away traveling salesman, fishing with guns, getting into fights with rebellious teenagers, and buying whatever strikes their fancy, be it a biplane or an old lion. Through a series of stories, Walter learns of his uncle Hub's decades-old clash with a vengeful sheik (Adam Ozturk), his undying love of a beautiful woman named Jasmine (Emmanuelle Vaugier), and his valiant efforts to rescue her from certain death. But Walter also learns about Hub's waning health and fading spirit, of Garth's attempts to keep his brother kicking, and of their philosophies and views of an ever-changing world. Through it all, the boy begins to question how much control he has of his own life, and whether it's the sort of life he wants to live or the only one his selfish mother (Kyra Sedgwick) has afforded him.

Make no mistake, Duvall and Caine's performances make Secondhand Lions. Osment overacts, albeit to reasonable effect, and the supporting cast tends to bumble across the brothers' paths, but Duvall and Caine bring such innate gravitas and endearing sincerity to their roles that it's difficult to picture anyone else filling Hub and Garth's muddy boots. Armed with barbed wit and weathered gazes, the actors completely inhabit the McCanns, granting writer/director Tim McCanlies' script relevance and depth even when little can be found. They effortlessly transition from comedy to drama, from whimsy to tragedy, all while portraying the stubborn resolve and deep-seated remorse of once-virile men past their prime. When McCanlies story is incoherent, they provide cohesion. Where his pen falls short, they provide support. Wherever he fails to hit the mark, they take steady aim. Granted, Caine's southern drawl falters on occasion, edging dangerously close to Texan Cockney, but his soft-spoken demeanor helps conceal the linguistic missteps he takes. Duvall could even be accused of relying on the same emotional punches that have peppered his entire canon, but it would take a hard heart to hold anything so trivial against such an accomplished actor. Their scenes with Osment are moving, their grandfatherly advice is touching, and their snarky relationship is a delight to watch unfold.

Sadly, whenever the camera isn't centered on Hub or Garth, the film tends to fall apart. The McCann's extended family members are culled for cheap laughs, but undercut the thematic undercurrent of the story. A literal secondhand lion is presented as an elusive metaphor, but becomes too transparent too quickly. Walter's fantasy sequences are fun diversions from the narrative, but fall flatter than McCanlies clearly intended. And so on and so on. Nothing about Secondhand Lions is remotely grating -- save the film's overworked, overbearing bookends -- and nothing is terribly distracting. However, the director's presumably personal project lacks potency, perhaps because it has trouble settling on a tone, but mainly because it declares Walter, not Hub or Garth, the keeper of its secrets. Had the film been about two elderly adventurers taking in a teenage boy, rather than the story of a teenage boy going to live with his aging uncles, it would have been more poignant and compelling. It's a subtle difference to be sure, but one that prevents McCanlies' first (and so far only) feature film from achieving much of what the filmmaker set out to do. Still, with all that being said, Secondhand Lions is worth watching, even if Duvall and Caine are its only assets. While most viewers will be best served with a rental, you might be surprised by how willing you are to add the film to your collection. I know I was.

Secondhand Lions Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Slathered with enough DNR to route a small army, Secondhand Lions' 1080p/VC-1 encode bears a striking resemblance to the faulty, first generation Blu-ray transfers we've all come to know and loathe; a disappointment only compounded by frequent macroblocking, crush, occasionally severe smearing, persistent source noise, textureless faces and fabric, intrusive edge halos, and intermittent print damage. There are even a number of scenes in which McCanlies' gorgeous Texas skies are assaulted by vertical lines, swarms of artifacts, and squirrelly contrast wavering. At its worst, it's frankly enough to ruin the entire presentation. However, exterior shots seem to be the source of the most trouble. Interior sequences are far more acceptable, even if only marginally so. While noise reduction still takes its toll, detail is slightly sharper, blacks are more reasonably resolved, and the aforementioned anomalies are less pervasive. Inside or out, colors are more striking than ever, and skintones, though prone to flushing and waxiness, look more lifelike than they ever did in standard definition. In fact, compared to New Line's 2004 DVD, Warner's Blu-ray edition is noticeably more vibrant and stable. Still, don't be distracted by its finer qualities. It's painfully clear that the studio simply took the film's problematic DVD master and dropped it onto a roomy Blu-ray disc. Grain is gone, replaced by a soupy film that, frankly, has no business on a high definition release. Yes, Secondhand Lions is, at best, a third tier catalog title, but it deserves much better.

Secondhand Lions Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

At least Secondhand Lions gets some sonic love, even if it's only of the technical variety. Packing a full-tilt Dolby TrueHD 6.1 surround track (that's right... 6.1), Warner has, at the very least, created a fairly immersive soundfield. The rear speakers are quite active, grabbing hold of the film's musical score, injecting ample environmental ambience into the experience, and allowing Walter's fantasy sequences to envelop the listener as aggressively as they envelop the kid himself. The only downside is that the majority of sounds littering the rear soundscape can also be found in the front speakers, meaning directionality is decidedly uninvolving and pans are more difficult to discern. Suffice to say, the track may take advantage of a 6.1 setup, but the sound design itself is rather two-dimensional, often valuing volume and impact over nuance and subtlety. Likewise, while dialogue is clean, intelligible, and well-prioritized, it also frequently suffers with hollow tones and tinny qualities that undermine the weight and warmth of the actors' voices. I'd expect such problems from a fifteen year old film, but Secondhand Lions is only six. Ah well. LFE output is strong and satisfying, acoustics are able-bodied, and dynamics, though frothy on occasion, are adequate. Decent at best, overpowering and blunt at worst, Warner's TrueHD track is a passable addition to this release.

Secondhand Lions Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Secondhand Lions arrives with the same, fairly generous supplemental package that was originally included on the New Line Platinum Series DVD. I wouldn't call the content engrossing, but it is extensive, offering a thorough overview of the film's production.

• Audio Commentary: Writer/director Tim McCanlies delivers an excitable, altogether jovial commentary that will appeal to anyone who enjoys Secondhand Lions. He tends to assume viewers have been duped by every camera trick and sleight-of-hand he employed, and he occasionally narrates the film rather than commenting on it, but he rarely grows quiet, doling out ample details about every aspect of the project.
• One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood (SD, 26 minutes): This over-produced EPK turns out to be a fairly informative and entertaining look at the genesis of Secondhand Lions, the challenges McCanlies faced in bringing it to the big screen, and Warner Brothers' "suggestions" about how to improve his first draft of the screenplay. If it weren't for the documentary's smarmy, overbearing narration, it would be a candid glimpse into one filmmaker's impassioned defense of his script and vision.
• On the Set with Secondhand Lions (SD, 26 minutes): A more satisfying, lower key documentary that explores the characters, story, and production of Secondhand Lions. It features yet another grating narrator and even more intrusive background music, but it covers a lot of ground and boasts engaging interviews, revealing behind-the-scenes footage, and a decent dissection of the film's themes.
• Haley Joel Osment: An Actor Comes of Age (SD, 13 minutes): While it drags on a bit too long, this thoughtful featurette tracks the young actor's career and examines his contributions to Secondhand Lions.
• Additional/Alternate Scenes (SD, 41 minutes): Ten lengthy deleted scenes (one of which is an overwrought alternate ending) are available with optional director's commentary.
• Visual Effects Comparisons (SD, 2 minutes): A split-screen comparison of two relatively minor scenes before and after the insertion of visual effects.
• Trailers & TV Spots (SD, 6 minutes): A theatrical trailer and seven TV spots round out the package.

Secondhand Lions Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Secondhand Lions doesn't reinvent the genre wheel or rely on refined subtleties to leave its mark. McCanlies' debut is little more than a harmless family adventure, albeit one that distinguishes itself with the performances of two, wonderfully talented industry veterans. Alas, Warner's Blu-ray release offers little more than a defunct video transfer, a decent Dolby TrueHD 6.1 surround track, and a fairly fulfilling batch of special features. I'd suggest giving this one a rent or waiting to purchase it until it's on sale.