- Film Review
- Reviewed By Tom Hutchinson
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2 out of 5
It is one of the unwritten rules of making a family film that it should not condescend to its target audience, especially the younger members. Cheaper by the Dozen does it in spades - with an impunity guaranteed by featuring a big star (Steve Martin). It's basically an over-extended sitcom that owes little allegiance to the original book or the delightful 1950 comedy starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy. Here the weight of the humour is dumped on Martin, who plays father of 12 children, Tom Baker. When his author wife, Kate (Bonnie Hunt), is called away for a book launch, he has to cope with a dozen unruly offspring as well as the pressures of a demanding new job in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. It's all very amiable, but the jokes are pretty thin and, let's face it, contraception could have remedied all the Bakers' problems.
Plot Summary
Remake of the 1950 family comedy, starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. Life is sweet for married small-town American football coach Tom Baker and his 12 children. But when a book launch calls Tom's author wife Kate away from the roost, the family foundations look set to crumble quickly into chaos.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Tom Baker
- Steve Martin
- Kate Baker
- Bonnie Hunt
- Nora Baker
- Piper Perabo
- Charlie Baker
- Tom Welling
- Lorraine Baker
- Hilary Duff
- Henry Baker
- Kevin G Schmidt
- Sarah Baker
- Alyson Stoner
- Jake Baker
- Jacob Smith
- Jessica Baker
- Liliana Mumy
- Kim Baker
- Morgan York
- Mark Baker
- Forrest Landis
- Hank
- Ashton Kutcher
Crew
- Director
- Shawn Levy
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