Cheaper by the Dozen
Published September 8, 2025
Film info
- Title Cheaper by the Dozen
- Director Shawn Levy
- Year 2003
- Run time 1hr 38m
- Genres Drama, Comedy, Family
- Tagline The more... the scarier!
The Baker brood moves to Chicago after patriarch Tom gets a job coaching football at Northwestern University, forcing his writer wife, Kate, and the couple’s 12 children to make a major adjustment. The transition works well until work demands pull the parents away from home, leaving the kids bored – and increasingly mischievous.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1:46 | “You need a paramedic?” “No just a new pair o’ knees.” |
| 6:50 | Loving the breakfast production line. |
| 11:44 | “Chill or be chilled.” |
| 21:52 | That is an incredible house! |
| 29:58 | “Who’s this? Somebody from something something.” |
| 34:34 | Not a fan of this weird apple tennis game. |
| 43:15 | I love that he secretly enjoys their antics. |
| 50:41 | “A few extra days… fourteen, give or take.” |
| 1:00:37 | Excellent soundtrack so far. |
| 1:13:42 | Smallville bringing the truth. |
| 1:18:59 | “Children? Hello, they’re monsters!” |
| 1:24:29 | Epic double decker train. |
Thoughts
After the snooze-fest of the last film, I was looking for something a bit more upbeat. This one did make me nervous because that’s a lot of children, which isn’t my favourite film subject, but Steve Martin means it was worth a go. It was actually really good! Considering there are at least 12 kids in it, it was very watchable, very funny, just kids getting up to mischief and a family trying to hold it together. I’m interested in the sequel too, as it seems to add Eugene Levy to the mix and that can only be a good thing.
Rating: 3 / 5