CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

MY RATING




DIRECTED BY
Shawn Levy

YEAR RELEASED
2003


PLOT OUTLINE
The Bakers, a family of 12, move from small-town Illinois to the big city after Tom Baker gets his dream job to coach his alma mater's football team. Meanwhile, his wife also gets her dream of getting her book published. While she's away promoting the book, Tom has a hard time keeping the house in order while at the same time coaching his football team, as the once happy family starts falling apart.

MY CRITZ
My parents come from big family; mom is the 2nd of 12 siblings and dad is the 10th of 11 siblings – they’re a part of the baby boomer generation. They could the epitome of this movie. Hats down to my grandparents.

Nowadays having more than 2 kids is considered A LOT. This movie definitely defies today’s norms, just like Jon & Kate plus 8 and 18 kids and counting. I personally would not want to have 12 kids of my own, but I wouldn’t mind having big (extended) family. After all, they are guaranteed to be the ones who will make you stay grounded. Trust me, I’ve experienced it.

I know that this movie is a bit old, but let me tell you... It is very cute!! A movie to watch on days like today, where the arctic cold sweeps the northeast and everything seems to be frozen. It gives you the perfect warmth to make you miss your parents and siblings.

I LOVE the on-screen chemistry between Steve Martin & Bonnie Hunt, they both are witty and funny without overdoing it. They both compliment each other and made the movie come to live. The 12 kids all have different personalities and their characters are obviously shown on screen. I can place myself in the movie as Lorraine Baker, a girly-girl character played by Hillary Duff and #3 in the family.

Having been the youngest of 3 sisters, I can’t imagine myself in a house full with 12 siblings. That means I have to share my bags, shoes and clothes. Oh no!!! I’m glad that my parents only settle for 3.