SECONDHAND LIONS (2003) **1/2 Michael Caine's done everything well, much of it very well, and just not to be outdone by himself here he is pulling off a Texas accent! Might not be quite as perfect as Robert Duvall's, but Michael had further to go, and there's no reason someone couldn't really sound like both of 'em... I guess Haley Joe Osment plays fine in their league, too, he maybe moves you the most in what's a movin' movie. I got moved anyway, like I was supposed to, but my complaint is that Tim McCanlies never has quite enough confidence in his film and script, and lets it...hell, encourages it to go all sappy in places that it need not have, as there's often a loss of momentum when one heads that direction on account of a sense of urgency about it. Emmanuelle Vaugier's very good in a small but elemental role, but as good as the actors all are...most of 'em, anyway...the star if it all is the spirit of the thing. It's got a good spirit, not a reckless one but not a wallflower of life one, neither. Hell, I'll say I like it 'cause I do.
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