A lovingly sweet tale. A positive tale. A tale of kindness and gentility. Does this even exist anymore? In the eyes of Tim McCanlies, it does.

| Nov 15, 2019

Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment turn in exceptionally strong performances in a heartwarming film.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 30, 2019

End result: You can't believe any of it. And poor Haley Joel Osment. Now he sees dead movies.

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 4, 2018

Charming family movie for tweens and up.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 28, 2010

...may wander near and far, mixing down-home hokum with gushy sentiment, yet it generally succeeds in winning us over.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 29, 2009

Duval and Caine make the film watchable, but there's too much gunplay for the movie to truly be the child-friendly entertainment that it pretends.

| Original Score: C | Jun 13, 2009

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 30, 2006

Lions will appeal to a more mature audience because of the solid acting duo of Caine and Duvall. It will also appeal to children because of its almost mythological feel.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 11, 2006

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 16, 2005

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 5, 2005

[Most family films] aim too low, so perhaps there should be hearty applause for one that tries to do too much good in its small space of time.

| Original Score: B | Dec 6, 2004

My only reservation about Caine is his less than credible Texas accent, especially since his brother's is so pronounced.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Oct 15, 2004

To see Osment react to a door closing is akin to watching someone get defibrillated.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 26, 2004

An unpretentiously sweet home-is-where-the-heart-is fantasy.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 1, 2004

[T]he real lesson here may be for Haley Joel Osment, who could well have Dickie Roberts II in his future.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 1, 2004

This film may be all over the map, but at least it takes viewers to some interesting places.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 10, 2003

Schmaltzed up, dumbed down, bombastically-scored family drama of touchy-feely life lessons.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Oct 28, 2003

'There is something to be said for reminding audiences of simple truths found amidst complex circumstances. But here, the film becomes a series of hokey contrivances and the simple truth it illustrates is so reductive it is almost insulting.'

Full Review | Oct 22, 2003

With Caine and Duvall two kings of the acting jungle in top form; more proof why good casting directors are worth their weight in black gold.

| Original Score: B+ | Oct 12, 2003