What The Critics Say

"It aims to be pleasant and good-natured, which it is. There are enough laughs scattered throughout to keep everything moderately amusing. the cast is likeable." Randy Cordova ARIZONA REPUBLIC "I would have loved this movie when I was about eight years old. Like its prequel, "Dozen" is a good-hearted flick loaded with the sort of whitebread values and cutesy subplots that will guarantee it's a hit with families." Samuel Downing OUR BRISBANE "Cheaper by the Dozen 2 a holiday treat." Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES "When a film makes $190M at the box office, you have to expect a sequel. This one is just as good as the first...actually a little better." John Venable SUPERCALA.COM "Carmen Electra is a nice surprise, making Jimmy's new spouse Sarina more than the expected trophy wife and giving her character an empathetic vulnerability and warmth. Young Alyson Stoner is a standout in scenes exploring preteen tomboy Sarah's first crush." Carolyn Arends CHRISTIANITY TODAY "There's no sly winks to adults in the audience, who might grow bored with the pratfalls and schmaltzy overtones, but the family-friendly story and harmless humour make "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" a winner for kids." Samuel Downing OUR BRISBANE "All the cast does what is expected of them, and the kids are all terrific. It was no doubt a money-spinner for Martin, who hams it up throughout with a somewhat embarrassed grimace of a smile. Levy comes out best, playing his thrice married father of eight dead straight, and I must admit, I was fascinated by his bouffant hair." Louise Keller OPTUS MOVIE REVIEWS

The Inside Story Just in case you're wondering why Shawn Levy isn't back Directing the sequel to the smash hit "Cheaper By The Dozen", let me reveal why. For a start, it's not because he wasn't asked. It's because he was busy with other commitments. Levy says he was still eager to contribute to the sequel, so he took on the job of producing the film with Ben Myron. So what can we expect from the sequel "Cheaper By The Dozen 2"? "The film takes this franchise to a new level," says Levy. "It really ups the stakes in so many ways. It was important for "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" to have a large scale, and at the same time have something new to say. It has more stunts, bigger laughs, and another family, which adds a new dimension to the Bakers’ story." So, how did Adam Shankman get the gig, directing this very funny sequel. It was a suggestion by Steve Martin. You see it was Shankman who directed Martin in the smash hit comedy, "Bringing Down The House" and also helmed "The Wedding Planner" and "The Pacifier". "Adam’s a talented filmmaker with a great eye and ear for comedy," says Martin. "He also has a terrific way of working with kids, and we were lucky to get him." Shankman revealled he couln't wait to get to work on the sequel. "I’d just done a film involving a bunch of kids ["The Pacifier"], but when I read the script for "Cheaper By The Dozen 2", I knew I’d have to do it, "he recalls, adding " and that we’d have to top the first film. The set pieces are bigger than the original’s and that gave me a lot to sink my teeth into. It still has the heart, but it’s a bigger canvas. It’s "Cheaper By The Dozen", on steroids!" Also back for this sequel is screenwriter Sam Harper who co-wrote the original film. I'm sure that cinemagoers will agree with Martin about the script. "The script was good from the first draft," he says. "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" kept the essence of the first movie, while taking it in new directions." "Adam, Shawn and I wanted to move the characters forward," says Harper. "The biggest challenge in writing the screenplay was finding a universal theme around which I could wrap a story that’s funny, emotional and big." The universal theme is one which most loving parents are faced with [sooner or later]. It comes when their children are old enough to leave home. It's known as 'empty nest syndrome'. Tom believes that one more family holiday will bring the family back together. "It’ll be just like old times," he tells them, " one more time". What he doesn't know is the 'family' holiday will turn into a family fued between him and his former college mate Jimmy Murtaugh. "The battle between Tom and Jimmy is as much a philosophical war as it is an athletic competition," says Harper. "After all the one-upsmanship and fighting between Tom and Jimmy, it becomes clear that parenting is a balance, and that they can learn from one another." "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" brings together all the cast from the original film. "I wouldn’t have missed it," says Hilary Duff. 'Lorraine has changed a lot. In the first film, she was a teen whose main interests were clothes, hair and makeup. In "Cheaper By The Dozen 2", she is young woman about to leave home for a great opportunity in New York." Also about to leave home is married and pregnant Nora Baker. "Like so many in the family, Nora’s had some seismic changes in her life," says Perabo. "But her dad doesn’t seem to want to let go of her, or his about-to-be first grandchild, whom football coach Tom expects to a linebacker." Bonnie Hunt says she is glad to be back as mum. "My first thought when I came aboard "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" was, I can’t wait to see the kids again," she said. "I wanted to see how they’ve grown and changed. The joy of doing this movie is being with them and sharing their experiences. I come from a family of seven children, so for me, working with all the kids is a total comfort zone. The more, the merrier." And there were other benefits as Hilary Duff found. "I even learned to fish on this movie!" Fans of "Cheaper By The Dozen" will be delighted to meet the Murtaugh's, a family headed up by Jimmy Murtaugh who is played by that very funny actor Eugene Levy who also appeared with Steve Martin in "Bringing Down The House". "I liked playing Jimmy because he takes winning seriously and he is very successful," Levy says. "It was a nice change from the characters I usually play who are somewhat less than successful. You know, they’re not the sharpest pencils in the drawer." Like those 'pencils', you don't have to be too sharp to work out that Eugene Levy and Steve Martin make a great team. "The magic between Steve and Eugene can’t be imitated," says Adam Shankman. "They really enjoy playing off each other. Their characters in "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" are the yin and yang of parenting, and Steve and Eugene brought that to life." Jimmy's just married for the third time. Carmen Electra plays Sarina, an intelligent woman who is certainly no trophy wife. "She’s genuinely in love with Jimmy and doing her best to cope with his competitive ways and with his kids. Fortunately, they’re all near-perfect." But don't fret readers. Just like in the original the kids manage to get themselves in and out of trouble at regular intervals throughout the film. Also joining the cast are two key four-legged members of the ensemble: Gunner, the Baker family pooch; and a troublesome pack-rat the Bakers call The Chiseler. In fact there were eight Chiseler's needed for the film, each one trained for a specific task in the filming. Cast & Crew Bytes "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2" stars .......
Mark Twain Prize for American Humor winner Steve Martin ["Father of the Bride I & II", "Bowfinger", "Bringing Down the House" and "Shop Girl"]; Eugene Levy ["National Lampoon's Vacation", "Waiting for Guffman", "Best in Show", "A Mighty Wind", "American Pie I, II, III" and "The Man"]; Bonnie Hunt ["Rain Man", "Dave", "Jumanji", "Jerry Maguire", "The Green Mile" and "Return to Me"]; Carmen Electra ["Sol Goode", "Get Over It!", "Uptown Girls" and "Starsky & Hutch"]; Tom Welling ["Cheaper By The Dozen", "The Fog" and TV'S "Smallville"]; Hilary Duff ["Agent Cody Banks", "The Lizzie McGuire Movie", "A Cinderella Story", "Raise Your Voice" and "The Perfect Man"]; Alyson Stoner ["Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Garfield"]; Haylee Wanstall ["The Safety Of Objects" and "Sugar"] and Jaime King ["Blow", "Pearl Harbor", "Slackers", "Bulletproof Monk", "Sin City" and "Two For The Money"] as Anne Murtaugh.
"CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2" was .......
directed by Adam Shankman ["The Wedding Planner", "A Walk To Remember", "Bringing Down the House" and "The Pacifier"]; screenplay by Sam Harper ["Rookie of the Year", "Just Married" and "Cheaper By The Dozen"]; original story by Frank B Gilbert ["Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Belles on Their Toes"] and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey ["Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Belles on Their Toes"]; cinematography by Peter James ["Double Jeopardy", "Meet The Parents", "The Man Who Sued God" and "The Pacifier"]; original music by John Debney ["Liar Liar", "Bruce Almighty", "The Passion of the Christ", "The Pacifier", "Sin City" and "Chicken Little"] produced by Shawn Levy [Produced "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and Directed "Big Fat Liar", "Just Married" and "Cheaper By The Dozen"] and Ben Myron ["Showgirls", "Leave It to Beaver", "One Night Stand", "Mister Magoo", "The Mod Squad" and "Waking Up in Reno"]. What It's All About With daughters Laura and Lorraine Baker about to leave the nest, Tom Baker and wife Kate, decide to bring their family together for one more memorable summer vacation at rustic Lake Winnetka, Wisconsin, their longtime family vacation home. But their retreat soon turns into chaos when Tom agrees to compete with the over-achieving members of a large family headed by his longtime rival, Jimmy Murtaugh who now owns a healthy chunk of lakeside properties. While both families kids seem to get along just fine, Jimmy and Tom's friendship is being sorely tested, and it's having a big impact on everyone. Is there anything that can bring the two families together as real friends? The Verdict "If you got your share of laughs out of "Cheaper By The Dozen" then you're sure to enjoy this sequel. All the original cast are back plus a whole heap of new identities who add a new dimension to the 'fun' of having a large family. "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" will prove entertaining for the whole family and those individuals looking for a fun cinema experience. Recommended." The Cast

Steve Martin Bonnie Hunt Eugene Levy Piper Perabo Tom Welling Hilary Duff Kevin Schmidt Alyson Stoner Jacob Smith Forrest Landis Liliana Mumy Morgan York Blake Woodruff Brent Kinsman Shane Kinsman Carmen Electra Alexander Conti Jaime King Taylor Lautner Haylee Wanstall

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Tom 'Dad' Baker Kate 'Mom' Baker Jimmy Murtaugh Nora Baker Charlie Baker Lorraine Baker Henry Baker Sarah Baker Jake Baker Mark Baker Jessica Baker Kim Baker Mike Baker Nigel Baker Kyle Baker Sarina Murtaugh Kenneth Murtaugh Anne Murtaugh Eliot D D Doobner

The Crew Directed by Adam Shankman Written by Sam Harper Characters by Craig Titley Adapted from the novel "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Produced by Shawn Levy & Ben Myron Original Music by John Debney Film Editing by Matthew Cassel/Andrew Greenbury/Christopher Greenbury Casting by Monica Swann Run Time 89 minutes Rated G Copyright ©2005 - 20th Century Fox - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved