Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

With his wife doing a book tour, a father of twelve must handle a new job and his unstable brood.

Director:

Shawn Levy

Writers:

Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (novel) (as Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr.), Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (novel)

Stars:

Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Tom Baker
Bonnie Hunt	...	Kate Baker
Piper Perabo	...	Nora Baker
Tom Welling	...	Charlie Baker
Hilary Duff	...	Lorraine Baker
Kevin G. Schmidt	...	Henry Baker
Alyson Stoner	...	Sarah Baker
Jacob Smith	...	Jake Baker
Liliana Mumy	...	Jessica Baker
Morgan York	...	Kim Baker
Forrest Landis	...	Mark Baker
Blake Woodruff	...	Mike Baker
Brent Kinsman	...	Nigel Baker
Shane Kinsman	...	Kyle Baker
Paula Marshall	...	Tina Shenk

Storyline

The Bakers, a family of 14, move from small-town Illinois to the big city after Tom Baker gets his dream job to coach his alma mater's football team. Meanwhile, his wife also gets her dream of getting her book published. While she's away promoting the book, Tom has a hard time keeping the house in order while at the same time coaching his football team, as the once happy family starts falling apart.

---

Plot Keywords:

child vomiting | new job | illinois | house | family versus career | 

---

Taglines:

This Christmas The More... The Scarier!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Dutzend billiger

Filming Locations:

357 S. Lorraine Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,557,647, 28 December 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$138,614,544, 6 June 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$190,212,113

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Robert Simonds Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 94 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

DTS (DTS HD Master Audio 5.1) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) Dolby Digital (Dolby Digital 5.1) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1 (D-Cinema prints) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liliana Mumy's father is Bill Mumy's who, as a child, played Will Robinson in the 60s TV show Lost in Space and had featured roles in poplar shows like Bewitched and The Twilight Zone.

---

Goofs

When Hank is falling into the pool of water he drops the apple, but in the next shot is still holding it.

---

Quotes

Mike: [shouts] Heads up!
[Tom catches the hockey ball right before it hits Tina in the face]
Tom: Little less wrist, Mike.
Tom: [throws the ball back to him and Mike catches it]
Mike: Got it.
Mike: [shouts] Game on!

---

Crazy Credits

Over the first part of the credits, we see outtakes.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Any Given Sundance (2008)

---

Soundtracks

People Come Together
Music by Marc Costanzo (as M. Costanzo)
Lyrics by Marc Costanzo (as M. Costanzo) / Philip Rae (as P. Rae) / Divine Styler (as M. Safiyullah) / M. Wilson / Sharon Costanzo (as S. Costanzo) / Jim Post (as J. Post) / Phife Dawg (as M. Taylor) / Q-Tip (as K. Fareed) / Ali Shaheed Muhammad (as A. Muhammed) / Ronnie Foster (as R. Foster)
Performed by Len
Courtesy of Universal Music Canada/DreamWorks Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
(Contains a sample of "Reach Out of the Darkness"
Written by Jim Post (as J. Post)
Performed by Friend and Lover
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Also contains a sample of "Electric Relaxation"
Written by Phife Dawg (as M. Taylor), Q-Tip (as K. Fareed), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (as A. Muhammed)
Performed by A Tribe Called Quest
Also contains a sample of "Mystic Brew"
Written and Performed by Ronnie Foster (as R. Foster)
Courtesy of Jive Records
Under license from BMG Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Folly by the furlong.

Mom's parenting skills consist of having all the kids get into the bed with her like puppies. Indeed, when she goes away on tour and has to stay in a hotel, she rings up room service for a dozen pillows in order to get to sleep! Similarly, Dad's parenting skills amount to letting the kids do whatever they please, so the story is not about two parents with twelve children, but rather fourteen children, of which two are somewhat older. There is no structure to this family, and hence when Mom and Dad become distracted by new career choices, it starts breaking down rapidly into anarchy and chaos. The problem isn't the number of children or the new career choices, but that the parents have not provided a family structure sufficient to support any changes in direction or growth.

In short, the story misrepresents a poor example of parenting as though it was a good example, manipulating the audience with feel-good sentimentality at every turn, so that we will not notice how messed up and dysfunctional this family actually is. We are supposed to laugh at all their craziness and antics, the chandelier crashing from the ceiling, the kids slipping on vomit, the frog splattering breakfast on everyone, and so forth, and then feel good in the end, when love conquers all, and they return to the simpler life where they started. In other words, this is just mindless nonsense promoting stupidity and childish values. It has nothing in common with the 1950 film from which it takes its title.