Search - Cheaper By the Dozen

Shawn Levy directs the family-oriented comedy Cheaper by the Dozen, a loose remake of the 1950 film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, which was itself based on a novel. Tom (Steve Martin) and Kate Baker (Bonnie Hunt) have made many sacrifices in their professional lives in order to raise their 12 children. When Tom is offered a job as a Division I college football coach, he moves the entire pack to a suburb of Chicago. This move shakes up the whole family, especially when Kate's memoirs get published and she takes off on a book tour. The lack of parental guidance creates problems for all the Baker kids, particularly handsome jock Charlie (Tom Welling), fashion plate Lorraine (Hilary Duff), and grown child Nora (Piper Perabo). Ashton Kucher stars in a cameo role as Nora's actor boyfriend, Hank. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Steve Martin - Tom Baker
Bonnie Hunt - Kate Baker
Piper Perabo - Nora Baker
Tom Welling - Charlie Baker
Hilary Duff - Lorraine Baker

Despite being a "by the numbers" remake of the 1950 classic family film, this loosely based remake of Cheaper by the Dozen has it's own charm, and Fox has delivered a DVD that will please most viewers, especially the younger generations. Both a 1.85:1 anamorphic image and a full-frame version (each on a separate side of the disc) is offered, and they both look very good, as would be expected. Detail is exceptional, and colors are nearly perfect, though at times the reds seem a bit oversaturated. Nevertheless, it's a small complaint since the vast majority of the transfer is beautiful to look at. The sound doesn't get the same kind of stellar treatment, but that isn't a real surprise. Light fare such as this simply doesn't warrant it. The English 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is clearly adequate for this genre. Dialogue is comprehensible, and environmental sounds are natural, but the surrounds are never exploited, even when a rare scene could use it. As with another Fox family title, Like Mike, the meager supplements are split up over the two sides, which seems like an unnecessary annoyance. On the widescreen side is a preview for Garfield: The Movie as well as a brief five-minute featurette entitled "Director's Viewfinder: Creating a Fictional Family," in which director Shawn Levy discusses his involvement and intentions in making the film. It's really not bad, but certainly short on detail. On the full-frame side are five deleted scenes, with optional commentary from Levy. Both sides also contain two scene-specific commentaries, one from Levy, who seems to be taking the whole thing just a little too seriously (but is at least fairly interesting to listen to) and the other from a number of the "Baker" kids, Liliana Mumy, Kevin Schmidt, Morgan York, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, and, though she was obviously recorded separately and only for some specific scenes, Piper Perabo. This second track is unlikely to interest kids, let alone parents, as it's total chaos in the recording studio, with the kids more interested in pointing out their lines than anything of relevance. Maybe missing just short of being an outstanding disc, this is still a fine accompaniment to a movie that is more enjoyable than would be expected. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide

These movies followed Cheaper By the Dozen...
66	Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (PG)
These movies cover the same subjects as Cheaper By the Dozen...
S	Belles on Their Toes (NR)
These movies are similar to Cheaper By the Dozen...
37	Parenthood (PG-13)
32	Yours, Mine and Ours (NR)
38	Mr. Mom (PG)
62	Father of the Bride (PG)
5	The Brady Bunch: The Complete Series [Green Shag Box] (NR)
1	Recipe for Disaster (G)
18	Leave it to Beaver (PG)
72	Yours, Mine and Ours [Widescreen] (PG)
These movies are original versions of Cheaper By the Dozen...
18	Cheaper By the Dozen (NR)