Director : Adam Shankman Starring : Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff Trailer for Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Videodetective (Windows Media 28-300Kb) (a.videodetective.com) Virgin.net Movies - Trailer (WMP) (film.virgin.net) More Movie Reviews... Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Click here

Review by Justin Chang:

A family sitcomsitcom writ very large, "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" sends the Bakers of Midland, Ill., on summer vacation, along with enough life lessons and cutely precocious kiddie dialogue to furnish an entire season of "Full House." Bland, canned but studiously professional sequel retains most of the principals from Fox's family-friendly 2003 hit, including the ever-reliable Steve MartinSteve Martin and Bonnie HuntBonnie Hunt. Auds who contributed to the first "Cheaper's" $138 million domestic take should return for a second round, with homevid returns likely to eclipse any theatrical shortfall.Despite the fact that he and wife Kate (Hunt) have 12 children, about nine of whom have yet to hit puberty, former football coach Tom Baker (Martin) is suffering from empty-nest syndrome. Oldest daughter Nora (Piper PeraboPiper Perabo) is about to have a baby and move to Texas with husband Bud (Jonathan Bennett, filling in for Ashton KutcherAshton Kutcher), while fashion-savvy Lorraine (Hilary DuffHilary Duff) is headed to New York for an internship.The solution: one last family trip up to beautiful Lake Winnetka, Wis. But to Tom's dismay, he discovers soon after their arrival that most of the lakefront property is now owned by his childhood nemesis, the filthy-rich Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy), who has eight kids of his own as well as a dishy new wife, Sarina (Carmen Electra)..more..

Review By Louise Keller:

A sequel doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad film. But there are not many redeeming qualities about this one. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is simply a case of plastic characters jumbled together with a contrived script, shoved in a Hollywood comedy oven with the timer bell ignored. Resulting attempts at slapstick comedy and goofy humour fall pretty flat and there is a limit to how many situations you can pit Steve Martin's Tom Baker against Eugene Levy's manically competitive neighbour. As I recall, the original film was amusing enough, with many of its crazy situations and characters grounded in reality. This time around, with a new director (Adam Shankman) and new writers, it's all played for laughs, apart from the final 20 minutes when sentiments about the strength of family is realised and there's a trickle of genuine warmth. But it's not enough.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. When the Baker and the Muraugh families find themselves side by side at their Lake Winnetka holiday haunt, the one upmanship between the two fathers is inevitable. The saving grace comes in the form of the kids, whose friendship with each, sets a new tone. The set up is fun (but the execution is not) when Tom's daughter goes on her first date with Jimmy's son, and both fathers sneak into the local cinema to secretly keep their eyes on them..More..