Movie review: 'Cheaper By the Dozen'

Charming `Cheaper modernized but lacks heart

By Robert K. Elder | Tribune Staff Reporter

December 22, 2003

2-1/2 stars (out of 4)

In a culture that tells us we can have it all -- a career, financial security and a family -- "Cheaper by the Dozen" seems a tad anachronistic.

This might be because the source material, a much-loved book of the same title, published in 1948 by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, was a memoir from inside a large family in the 1920s. Yes, we've come a long way, but not so far that we couldn't use professional child care. And, a better script.

However, "Cheaper by the Dozen" isn't without charm, or laughs. Director Shawn Levy's film features some of the best child actor casting since "The Little Rascals." Not only does it have "Smallville" star Tom Welling and "Lizzie McGuire" star and singer Hilary Duff, but Steve Martin and the invaluable Bonnie Hunt.

Martin and Hunt star as Tom and Kate Baker, parents who move their 12 kids up from small-town Illinois to Evanston when Tom is offered the job of a lifetime: coaching his alma mater college football team. The kids, understandably, hate uprooting their lives, and revolt every step of the way.

An inspired bit of comedy comes when the younger set decide to torture an older sibling's boyfriend (Ashton Kutcher) by soaking his underwear in hamburger, drying it, then releasing the hounds when he puts them back on.

"You have a dark gift," Tom tells middle child Sarah (Alyson Stoner), the insurgency ringleader.

One of the fall-down funniest (and perhaps most honest) moments comes when Kutcher pokes fun at himself, as his character, an aspiring actor, gives an "I'm-not-that-good-an-actor-my-looks-are-all-I-have" speech. Although "Cheaper" coasts on sheer star charisma, we end up wanting Martin and Hunt to bring down the iron hammer of discipline on their uber-pouty brats. That's not a good sign, given we're on the kids' side for much of the movie.

The novel, originally a collection of autobiographical observations, was first adapted to the screen in 1950 by Walter Lang ("The King and I") with the recently departed Jeanne Crain ("Pinky") and Clifton Webb in the starring roles.

Levy's "Cheaper by the Dozen" isn't so much a remake as a reimagining of the 1950 film. The names are changed, and Martin's character is morphed from an efficiency expert who believes families can be run like factories to a sports-obsessed dad.

Other attempts were made to modernize the story, including a concocted countdown to a home visit from Oprah Winfrey, who wants to feature Kate on her show for a book she has written called, you guessed it, "Cheaper by the Dozen." Her kids can't behave for two weeks while she's on book tour, however, causing a screwball meltdown that sends us racing toward the end.

The payoff feels a bit forced and contrite -- everyone discovers the value of family, but it seems no one knows what it means.

"Cheaper by the Dozen"

Directed by Shawn Levy; written by Craig Titley; based on the book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey; photographed by Jonathan Brown; production design by Nina Ruscio; edited by Michael Jablow; produced by Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Ben Myron and Robert Simonds. A 20th Century Fox release; opens Thursday. Running time: 1:38. MPAA rating: Rated PG for language and some thematic elements.
Thomas Baker - Steve Martin
Kate Baker - Bonnie Hunt
Charlie Baker - Tom Welling
Nora Baker - Piper Perabo
Lorraine Baker - Hilary Duff
Hank - Ashton Kutcher