Secondhand Lions

The free movie Friday night at H.V. Griffin Park will be one of my favorites: "Secondhand Lions," starring Robert Duvall, Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment. It's a great, feel-good family movie, perfect for this type of event.

As a matter of fact, I just recently bought the DVD, from the bargain bin at a local store.

The story is about Osment's character being sent to live with his cantankerous, eccentric and mysteriously-wealthy uncles for the summer. Caine tells Osment all sorts of fanciful stories about where the money came from, but other family members hint that it might be ill-gotten gains.

Osment eventually has to decide what he believes about the uncles.

Fans of "Bloom County" cartoonist Berke Breathed will also enjoy the movie. Osment's character grows up to be a cartoonist, and in the bookend scenes with Josh Lucas playing him as an adult, the artwork on display in the background is actually Breathed's. Stay through the credits and you can see a little animation based on the cartoons.

The movie begins at dark outside the small pavilion. In case of rain, it will begin at 7 p.m. in the rec center.

It's well worth your time.