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At the party after the high school graduation of their daughter Lorraine (Hillary Duff),
Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and his wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) realize that their huge family with twelve rambunctious children is starting to split up for the first time. Grown
children will be leaving home for various reasons among them marriage or college studies.
To revive the feeling of family togetherness, the Bakers rent a vacation house by the Lake Winnetka for the Labor Day holiday. But the children seem to have lost their zest for family games and their interest in the outdoors. Instead Tom discovers his old high school rival Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy) has built a fortune and an impressive mansion of a vacation house just across the lake. With him are his glamorous wife Sarina (Carmen Electra) and his eight accomplished children. Jimmy recalls how Tom was the more popular in their younger days and though hospitable and friendly to the Bakers, he is actually showing off his success to the not-two-well-off Tom, a college football coach. The children of the two families get along. But the competitive spirit is still alive between Tom and Jimmy and the two families engage in a climactic contest of sports and family games to win the annual village cup.
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is the third film based on the novel by Frank Gilbert Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and probably it will not be the last. It may be too early to say whether it will out gross the $45 million made at the tills by its immediate predecessor entitled Yours, Mine and Ours in 2003 but this better made sequel is sure to provide moviegoers with much warmth and good feeling. There is a lot of slapstick and rough humor but there is also some restraint in the pranks and antics of the cast. Ensemble performance is good. Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt are plausible parents. But a pleasant revelation is Alyson Stoner as the 13 year old Sara Baker on the threshold of adolescence with its self- doubts and its awakening of young love.
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 depicts family life characterized by love, friendship and consideration for each other. Though some members may be indifferent, irritated or resentful at times, actually the bottom line is, there is great bonding and caring. Some incidents show this—like, where Hillary Duff's character gives understanding and support to the younger sister Sarah who is feeling insecure while in the throes of first love. The climactic contest shows the vibrant family spirit and cooperation. Parents show love for their children by giving them quality time and always opening lines of communication. The movie shows that parents, though experiencing the empty nest syndrome, should not impose themselves on the children especially those who are grown up. When grown children leave home to chart their own destiny, parents should let go. There are some non-values like the seeming lack of discipline as regards the Baker children sometimes. Also at one point, Tom Baker encouraged his daughter to put her rival in an embarrassing situation but this plan backfired on him. The film is wholesome family entertainment that highlights respect for life.
(Date Reviewed: 27 January 2006)
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