Cheaper by the Dozen

Rating:
Summary: Cheaper by the Dozen: Not Too Bad
Review: Cheaper by the Dozen was a pretty good movie. It was nothing like the book, but that didn't matter in this case. I wasn't laughing throughout the whole movie, but there were definitely some pretty funny moments in it. I would've given this movie five stars if it had made a little bit more sense plot-wise. But for the most part, this was a well-made movie. The DVD bonus features were excellent, and I love it when you have the option of fullscreen OR widescreen on one DVD instead of one or the other on two different DVDs. So if you and your family are looking for some good chuckles, I recommend that you get this funny family film.

Rating:
Summary: The parents end up on the losing side of this comedy
Review: I have known for some time that I am old, but watching "Cheaper by the Dozen" confirmed something even worse: I am a parent.

I say this because when Tom Baker (Steve Martin) has the opportunity to coach at his alma mater, a Division I school that must be the other college in Evanston, Illinois besides Northwestern, his eleven children pretty much turn on him (the oldest is already in Evanston living with her boyfriend, so she does not get a vote). All of the kids immediately start whining about losing their friends and even the prospect of finally living in a house big enough for each of them to have their own rooms (except for the last set of twins) because dad's dream job means an increase in salary by like 10 fold, does not enter into their mercenary little hearts.

Life adds insult to injury for poor Tom, because just as he gets busy with his new job his wife, Kate (the wonderful Bonnie Hunt), learns that a publisher is interested in her book (entitled "Cheaper by the Dozen," of course) and wants to send her on a book tour. Kate supported Tom so he now returns the favor, although this means he is going to have to fend for himself with the eleven kids. He really is on his own, not only because he cannot hire anybody to work in a home with twelve kids (he keeps forgetting the oldest is not living there anymore) but because without mom around this family apparently has no idea of how to function.

To be fair, I have little doubt that kids are going to like this movie a lot more than adults. They should. Their side wins the war here. In the end their parents, the bullies at school, the snobbish neighbors, and everybody else go down in defeat or at least beat a hasty retreat.

Steve Martin tries to recapture the wonderful father figure he portrayed in "Parenthood," but the problem is that it is hard to buy the football coach part of the equation in this film. This is especially true because this is the part of the film where reality bends to the dictates of the screenplay (can you really have practice in your house and back yard for any sort of football team let along one from a major college?). Bonnie Hunt is perfect, which pretty much explains why her character is sent off to a sideshow for a large segment of the film, otherwise the plot would not spin so far out of control.

There is a clear line of demarcation with the kids. The three oldest are all recognizable faces, with Piper Perabo from "Coyote Ugly," Tom Welling from television's "Smallville," and Hillary Duff from everything having to do with her Lizzie McGuire character. The other nine are all fresh faces and they are the ones who come out best in this film. The three young "stars" are all plagued by plotlines that really do not go anywhere. Perabo's Nora violates a major rule of her parent's home with only one slight ripple. Welling's Charlie is subjected to prejudice and stupidity at his new school (what football coach looks at a guy and decides what position he plays?) without the expected chance to get back a little of his own. At least the younger kids get to do that at their school. Then there is Duff's Lorraine who basically runs around the movie without ever finding a plot line to call her own. Of course with thirteen other members of the family to contend with, and Nora's boyfriend, the uncredited Ashton Kutcher, competition for screen time is fierce.

The funniest moment in this 2003 film would have to be when Martin and Hunt are trying to pull the family dog off of Kutcher's rear end. I know I should be think of them in terms of their characters by that point in the film, but it was really hard to get past the idea of what the script has these three stars doing in that scene. But despite the funny moments, which almost always come from slapstick rather than character, this is an emotionally unsatisfying film. When a crisis finally forces the Baker family to come together, it is really too little too late as far as I am concerned.

Besides, look at what happens at the end of the film where nobody in the Baker family gets what they want having given it up at different points earlier in the film. The main losers remain the parents, who got a taste of the good life but are forced to give it up. Nor do the kids get to go back to the town of their happy youth. "Close" works with horseshoes, hand grenades, and thermonuclear devices, but not with finding a job and moving a town in proximity to the place you left a year earlier.

For me the final note of "Cheaper by the Dozen" is rather depressing. But then this is because I am a parent.

Rating:
Summary: Dirty "Dozen"
Review: Sappy, sitcomish remake to the 1950 original that has a few genuine laughs but a decent enough movie to fold laundry to.

Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt star as parents to 12 kids who cause major chaos on any day of the week. But, the family is uprooted when Martin is offered to coach his old college football team. What makes matters worse, is when Hunt's book (ironically, titled "Cheaper by the Dozen") suddenly takes off and has to go on a nationwide book tour. Chaos ensues, and Martin and Hunt have to choose what comes first, family or career.

Predictable in every way, this could have played better as a network sitcom with the kids pulling off a major prank, and a moral value thrown in each week. Not a bad film, but, could have been better. Definite for family viewing.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: During the movie, I couldn't stop laughing. There was a funny part, followed by another funny part, and so on.

Tom Baker is offered a job in Chicago to coach for a college football team. He and his whole family (with 12 children) move to Chicago so that Tom can ensue his career.

Not long after, Mary Baker leaves on her new book tour, leaving Tom with all 12 children. Havoc ensues.

I think that the actors did an excellent job with the film. This is a great family foom.

Rating:
Summary: A Movie Firing On All Cylinders!
Review: From the opening scene, Steve Martin coming in from a long run, then sitting on the lumpy bed (actually the lumbs were some of his twelve kids under the covers), to the rolling of the credits, this film has it all.

The viewer does not have to come from a large family to identify with all of the problems the Baker family faces. The move from the small town life to a much more urban (not too urban though) environment is a shock to the entire family. I think this movie flows quite well; touches on many different characters (probably the largest and most actively involved cast of any recent movie); and has a very important message: Sometimes your dreams aren't really what you think they are.

This is not a sophisticated comedy geared towards the typical "gourmet coffee drinker - analyze the movie to make sure it talks about human suffering enough" movie-goer, but more towards the crowd who enjoys life for the simple fact they're alive and kicking.

Steve Martin always rises to the role. Hilary Duff, who I normally can't stand, did a good job, too. The rest of the cast seemed to compliment each other exceedingly well. The filming (moving shots without breaks) was superb! The school scenes could have been filmed live at any high school; in other words, very realistic.

I'm not sure how someone can give this movie less than five stars...Maybe they thought it was supposed to be a Western?

I say, "Buy this film, sit down with the family, and enjoy a nice buttery and oversalted bucket of popcorn while you watch a great flick."

But hey, that's just my opinion...

:-)

www.therunninggirl.com

Rating:
Summary: Cute
Review: After Martin's lackluster Bringing Down the House, this movie was a vast improvement. Martin is highly likeable as a small town football coach who is offered the opportunity to move to Chicago to coach a major college football team. This opportunity is too good to pass up and since it is what Martin has wanted his whole life. The bad thing is that his large family, that is used to living the small-town lifestyle is forced to uproot and move to a totally alien environment in a rapid-paced big city.

Martin's professional life clashes with his personal life, as his university boss wants him to spend all his waking hours concentrating on football, while his twelve children are all running into problems adjusting to the new environment and constantly need his attention. His problems get multiplied when his wife's career as a writer takes off and she is asked to go on a tour to promote her book, leaving Martin to be in charge of the 12 demanding children.

It is highly entertaining seeing how Martin tries to have his football team practice at his house so he can also watch his kids. All of this goes on under the scrutiny of his controlling neighbors, who only have one kid, who they don't allow to do anything fun.

There are some really touching moments especially involving Martin's youngest son, who seems to be ignored by everyone else. His best friends are his frogs and the move is devastating to him because he will not be able to bury all his frogs together when they die. It is an almost heartbreaking moment when his other frog dies and he gets on a bus (or was it a train?) by himself to travel back to his old house and bury his frog with his frog's friend.

Rating:
Summary: Often funny with a good cast but.....
Review: I never saw the original so I don't know if the kids come off as spoiled brats in that one or not but in this one they certainly do. When they hear their dad wants to move to follow his dream of being a football couch. All 12 of them complain and tell him he's ruining their lives. I was curious to see how Tom Welling (Smallville) does off tv and he fits in there on screen with actors like Steve Martin. However all his character has to do is complain about how he's leaving his g/f behind. It's the younger kids that have more screen time. When the mom "Bonnie Hunt" leaves to promote her book, Martin is left alone with all of them.

Instead of being good for him and try to understand that he's trying to make time for them and couch a team as well, they raise hell instead. They crash a kid's birthday party when they all are supposed to be grounded and then call up the mom and complain about how bad a job their dad is doing. I admit I felt bad that they were getting picked on in school and they hated it there but all act like spoiled brats. Well except for the older sister and the kid with the frog who feels like he doesn't fit in. The older sister played by Piper Parabo (Coyote Ugly) with charm is more mature and likeable though. When she and her b/f (Ashton Kutchner) agree to stay there to help out, the kids make sure they ruin that as well so the father has to do everything by himself. The movie is still often funny and performances good but after almost 2 hours of watching 12 kids complain and cause havoc you still wonder how the parents handle it.

Rating:
Summary: Family Fun -- Family Values
Review: I love those big crazy family comedies, from the classics (like the 1950 original of this film) to "Parenthood." This "Cheaper" is funny and fast-moving for kids aged 6 and up and solid entertainment for parents. It covers a lot of ground emotionally and story-wise and is great to watch with a group. I also enjoyed a hilarious book, "I Sleep At Red Lights: A True Story of Life After Triplets" (by Bruce Stockler) about a sleep-deprived Dad, a real-life "Cheaper By The Dozen."

Rating:
Summary: Fun for the entire family
Review: In today's world, the belligerent attack on the family is commonplace, especially in Hollywood where families are lightly discarded and the roles of parenthood are made light. Three cheers to a story that shows that the MOST IMPORTANT thing in life is family.

Anybody at any age will appreciate this film. There are a lot of unrealistic and "yeah-right" things about this movie... but it is still entertaining and still carries a very important message about the importance of a family sticking together.

I would suggest this film to everybody, no matter the size of their family.

Rating:
Summary: BEST MOVIE EVER!
Review: Cheaper By The Dozen is the best movie ever! I saw it over and over! Everyone should see this movie!!!