The 2003 family movie ‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ is a loose remake of the same name released in 1950. This remake spawned a 2005 sequel (which was OK) and another remake for Disney Plus in 2022 (which I didn’t know existed until I started working on this review).
Tom and Kate Baker have compromised their careers to raise 12 children. Tom coaches a high school football team, while Kate has retired from journalism to raise the family.
Things change when Tom is offered a college coaching job in a new city at the same time a publisher buys Kate’s parenting memoir.
After moving, Kate goes on a book tour, leaving Tom in charge of the children, who, already unhappy about relocating, plunge the household into chaos.
The 2003 loose remake is a fun-filled family movie that delivers a nice little story, some likable characters and some very humorous chaotic situations with the children.
Like always, Steve Martin really gives us some highly entertaining moments. As soon as his character (Tom) is in charge of all the children for a while, hilarity ensues. There are several moments throughout this family movie that can really make you laugh, including where Tom and his college football players have to get his children from a birthday party that has gone slightly awry.
‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ also has some truly heart-warming moments, which mainly involve the one child Mark, who is nicknamed “FedEx” by the other children due to him being slightly different from the other children.
There’s one scene that can actually be quite moving when we see Mark having a little funeral for his pet frog. Also towards the end, we see him run away to go back to their original home. In those scenes, we also see that the other children clearly care about Mark.
Ashton Kutcher’s character as the not so smart boyfriend also adds a few laughs throughout the movie and actually makes fun of himself in a couple scenes. In fact, I actually forgot the actor was in the movie since I haven’t seen this movie in some time.
There are also quite a few hilarious moments where we see the children play some pranks on his character, such as making him trip in a kids pool and soaking some of his clothes in meat, which attracts their family dog.
Sure, ‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ can be on the predictable side for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but this movie will do a great job providing the whole family some good laughs!
Cast: Steve Martin (Tom); Bonnie Hunt (Kate); Piper Perabo (Nora); Tom Welling (Charlie); Hilary Duff (Lorraine); Alan Ruck (Bill); Richard Jenkins (Shake McGuire); Ashton Kutcher (Hank); Alyson Stoner (Sarah); Forrest Landis (Mark), among many others.
Writers/director: Sam Harper (writer) (Rio; Cheaper By The Dozen 2); Joel Cohen (writer) (Daddy Day Camp); Alec Sokolov (writer) (Daddy Day Camp; Evan Almighty); Shawn Levy (director) (Deadpool & Wolverine)
Trivia: Loosely based on the 1950 film and the real life Gilbreth family, the name Gilbreth appears several times throughout the movie. Tim Allen, Kurt Russell, Tom Hanks and Robin Williams were also considered for the role of Tom Baker. Honestly, this would’ve been a perfect role for Williams.
Rating: PG for language and some theatrical material (99 minutes)
Where to find the movie? You can stream ‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ and its sequel on Disney Plus.
I hope you have enjoyed my Family Movie Night Series that I’ve been working on throughout the month of November! I will very likely do another family series at some point down the road. And, since the holiday season is finally here (boy, time does certainly fly), I will be checking out some holiday films for December for you to enjoy!
When the "Cheaper by the Dozen" movies were made, neither Steve Martin nor Bonnie Hunt, who played the parents of 12 children, had ever had a child in real life. Steve Martin first became a father years later in February of 2013 when his wife Anne Stringfield gave birth to his first child.
Jared Padalecki was originally supposed to play Charlie Baker but was unable to do so. He was then asked to play the unnamed bully because they wanted someone who was taller than Tom Welling.
After the meat soaking scene, Steve Martin's character (Tom Baker) says, "Where did they come up with soaking his underwear in meat?" Actually, the idea of the kids soaking Hank's underwear in meat was Steve Martin's idea.
Tim Allen, Kurt Russell, and Tom Hanks were considered for the role of Tom Baker.
Based on the real life Gilbreth family. The name Gilbreth appears several times throughout the film as Kate's maiden name.
Robin Williams was considered for the role of Tom Baker.
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