Cheaper by the Dozen (2003): Dir: Shawn Levy / Cast: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Piper Perabo, Ashton Kutcher: Wholesome comedy about the cost and struggles of raising a large family. The film stars Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt with background information given how they came to have twelve kids. Martin coaches football and Hunt quit her job at the Chicago Tribune to raise the children. Martin is given the opportunity to coach the team that he has always desired to coach but to do so he must move the family four hours away. Once settled, Hunt is off on a book tour. Although formula in structure and perhaps too many kids to keep track of the conclusion is heart warming. Well directed by Shawn Levy who previously made the dreadful and unfunny Big Fat Liar. Martin and Hunt are terrific thanks to complex roles. They bring realism to the marriage relationship highlighting the struggles. The fact that they become a stronger family unit in the conclusion is predicted. The kids are played by a variety of sorts including Hilary Duff and Piper Perabo among others. Ashton Kutcher is even featured as Perabu's self absorbed boyfriend. The premise becomes the film's weakness when factoring that none of these kids are very interesting. Despite that, there are very amusing moments and a theme stressing that raising a family isn't cheap but it can be rewarding. Score: 6 ½ / 10
Review of Cheaper by the Dozen
