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CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2

REVIEWED BY JARED KRAFT

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: language, sensuality, thematic elements

Rated:

Following the great success of 2003's Cheaper by the Dozen, Fox Pictures rounded up their millions of gross dollars and made a risky gamble: they started a sequel. That right there might have turned away half the movie goers in America, but didn’t. Back for the sequel is Steve Martin as Tom Baker, accompanied by Bonnie Hunt as his loving wife Kate. Also, shockingly, all twelve kids from the original are back to reprise their roles as the Baker children. The stage is set, it seems like it has to be great, after all, the cast is all back. Right?

The film begins as Lorraine Baker (Hillary Duff) graduates from high school. She receives her diploma and announces her plans to move to New York City. Shortly following her graduation speech her sister Nora (Piper Perabo) and her husband announce they are moving to Houston. This comes as a shock to the family, and the viewer begins to see what this film is about. The family is growing up. Separating. For a while it feels like a sad family drama and you feel that familiar, "everyone is getting old and leaving" feeling in your stomach. It is at this point that Tom decides he is taking the family on one last vacation. Kate is supportive of the idea, and after a couple scenes of begging and negotiating with their kids, they are off to Lake Winnetka.

Upon arrival, Tom is upset to find that his former rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy) has bought a condo on the lake, married a model, and has eight extremely smart and well behaved children. He is disturbed that his own kids seem so out of control and undisciplined compared to them, and so the competition starts. The next section of the film is mostly comprised of competition between the two families. Baker vs. Murtaugh. The war is on. Every crazy, messy incident you have ever seen in a comedy is shown here. Everything from raw meat to spilled orange juice to broken dishes. All of this is settled at the annual Lake Winnetka cup, an all day event in which families compete as teams in various physical and mental exercises, and it’s not as either family expects.

Many lessons can be learned by observing the two men, such as lessons about covetousness, jealousy and contentment. However, these are not quite enough to make up for the film's inadequacies... cleavage humor, occasional (and mild) sexual references, and frequent immodesty. Nothing too strong or offensive, but enough to water it down a little. Another problem I had was the production quality. I really enjoyed the first film and thought it was a fun, enjoyable family comedy. However, the sequel seems to have gone a ways in the wrong direction, and it shows. The acting is a little stiff and the feel is cheesy. The characters are also a bit less loveable, including Lorraine. Her character was so changed and unlikable in this film. It wasn’t fair to the character. If you enjoyed the first production, and like most of the family comedies on the market, you may very well enjoy this. I don’t have any major complaints except that it didn’t have the "it" factor of the first one. If you don’t mind what I mentioned above, or have not seen the first, these problems may not be so apparent, however, I couldn’t quite get past thing the "budget/sequel" feel of this endeavor.