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Cheaper by the Dozen
2003 98 min United States of America PG 12+
★5.6
Comedy, Family, Drama
Director: Shawn Levy
📖 Based on the novel
«Cheaper by the Dozen»
byFrank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr.
Trailers
Description
The Baker brood moves to Chicago after patriarch Tom gets a job coaching football at Northwestern University, forcing his writer wife, Kate, and the couple's 12 children to make a major adjustment. The transition works well until work demands pull the parents away from home, leaving the kids bored -- and increasingly mischievous.
Budget:
$40M
US Gross:
$138.61M
Worldwide:
$190.21M
Starring
Steve Martin
Actor
Bonnie Hunt
Actor
Hilary Duff
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2004
— Worst Actor
Key opinion
Cheaper by the Dozen is widely regarded as a lighthearted, non-vulgar family comedy that successfully navigates chaotic, high-energy premises. While many viewers praise its charming performances and positive themes, others find the children's behavior frustrating and the depiction of parenting dynamics overly permissive.
| Acting | Steve Martin provides a reliable anchor for the film, delivering a performance that balances comedic timing with the weary resignation of an overwhelmed father. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds in giving each of the twelve children enough distinct screen time and personality to make the large ensemble feel like a cohesive, albeit chaotic, unit. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay adheres to a predictable family-comedy formula that offers reliable, feel-good entertainment but avoids breaking new narrative ground. | |
| Theme | The portrayal of child behavior is polarizing; some find the antics hilarious and adorable, while others perceive the children as selfish, ungrateful, and poorly disciplined. | |
| Ending | The ending is subject to debate, with some viewers finding the resolution satisfying and heartwarming, while others view it as a weak or unearned appendage to the story. |