Cheaper by the Dozen (PG)

Remake bears no resemblance to the 1950 original.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Shawn Levy
  • Cast: Steve Martin, Hilary Duff
  • Running Time: 100 minutes
  • Release Date: 12/25/2003
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 04/06/2004
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • MPAA Explanation: language and some thematic elements

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie includes some schoolyard-style naughty words and PG-style sexual references that get close to a PG-13. When asked about his 12 children, Tom smirks about his wife: "I couldn't keep her off me." He explains that he had a vasectomy but did not wait for it to become effective, resulting in the second set of twins. And part of the plot concerns the oldest child (an adult) moving in with her boyfriend (which does not bother her parents) and whether they should be allowed to sleep together when they visit the family. Some audience members may be offended by the portrayal of the family as vaguely Catholic, with references to Jesus and a rosary but no evidence of religious observance. There is comic peril with some minor injuries. The product placement (Crate & Barrel) is particularly (and annoyingly) intrusive.

Families can talk about how they work together to make sure that they achieve a balance between time for work and time for each other.

Message

Social Behavior:

Some gross-out humor.

Consumerism:

The product placement (Crate & Barrel) is particularly (and annoyingly) intrusive.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

There is comic peril with some minor injuries.

Sex

Sexual references that get close to a PG-13.

Language

Some schoolyard-style naughty words.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Steve Martin plays Tom Baker, a coach who is offered his dream job at his alma mater just as his wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) hears that her book about the family has been accepted for publication. The eleven children still living at home do not want to move, but Tom promises that it will make them a stronger and happier family. But the new job is very demanding, and when Kate has to go on tour to promote the book, Tom is quickly overwhelmed by the challenges of taking care of his children.

Is it any good?

2

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN is not a movie; it is a product, with a script right off the assembly line and direction on automatic pilot. Its intended audience of 8- to 14-year-olds will probably enjoy it very much. But those who care about that audience will be disappointed that the people behind this movie do not realize that they owe those children some imagination and sincerity. The movie takes its title and family size from the classic book about the real-life Gilbreth family but has no other connection to the original and is inferior to it in every aspect.

There are the predictable "aww" moments (death of a pet, reminder that the kids might fight with each other, but they really love each other) and the predictable "ewww" moments (one child barfs and another slips and falls on it). The script is slack and lazy, incapable of a satisfying resolution for even the most reliable family-movie plot devices like a mean bully or snobby, over-protective neighbors.

Other choices

Yours, Mine, and Ours

Cheaper By the Dozen (1950)
Parenthood
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 25 reviews.

Age 3+
5

Posted on 11/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 3+
5

Posted on 11/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

3


Posted on 07/06/08 by lolcutie995 Kid contributor, age 13

good

it was a very good movie and I think it also had a great messege
4


Posted on 07/04/08 by Ella6 Kid contributor, age 12

This movie is HILARIOUS...

I really enjoyed this movie and I thought it was really great, but some of the humor and comments are not the best choice. It is probably not a good movie for kids under age 6. I would recommend this movie to kids around my age.
4


Posted on 06/09/08 by expert_reviewer Kid contributor, age 13

FLIP U CSM !!!!

Forget what common sense says this is an awsome movie that is alittle sad in parts and it is hilarous.
Age 11+
2


Posted on 09/18/07 by LoriL Adult contributor

4


Posted on 04/06/07 by bettydancer1995 Kid contributor, age 11

4


Posted on 08/04/06 by upperroom Kid contributor, age 11

4

Posted on 09/18/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

Age 8+
4


Posted on 02/24/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor

See all 25 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

Age 3+
5

Posted on 11/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 3+
5

Posted on 11/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 11+
2


Posted on 09/18/07 by LoriL Adult contributor

Age 8+
4


Posted on 02/24/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor

Age 5+
5

Posted on 12/21/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 8+
3

Posted on 11/30/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Parents need to watch with kids

While this is a funny, family movie, the kids do misbehave in outrageous ways and seem to get away with it. Parents should watch with children and then discuss that the pranks while funny are not acceptable behavior.<p>Discussion topics -- How a family can work together -- Teasing and how it can hurt others -- The fun of being part of a big family -- Why family time is important
Age 8+
3


Posted on 08/13/04 by fivebewe Adult contributor

Age 11+
3

Posted on 05/28/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Chaos Reigns Supreme

We have four children and I think we really enjoyed watching the chaos that goes along with having a house full of kids. I wondered if it would seem too scripted but they got the tone just right. The new neighbor character was a bit too fakey and simplistic for me. It's one thing to have neighbors who are tired of the noise and mess that comes with a big family but it is quite another to not care at all about them as individuals when something bad happens. I found that to be very unbelievable. Otherwise the script was a bit hokey in parts, but fun. The kids learned to adapt to their new surroundings and work together, they got big lessons on responsibility and loyalty.
Age 5+
5


Posted on 05/05/04 by ForHim Adult contributor

a great family film

Our whole family saw this movie. We laughed almost the whole way through. Boy, this film could give kids some ideas about how to scare someone off. The film shows how a family can and should stick together through thick and thin. There are a few scenes where children yell at their parent/ parents but the parents learn to truly listen to their kids. The film shows how selfishness can affect the whole family and how being unselfish can too. It showed how the kids got along most of the time and how the parents loved and supported each other.
Age 5+
5

Posted on 04/11/04 by Anonymous Adult contributor

One of the funniest movies I've ever seen!

See all 12 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 13 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/06/08 by lolcutie995 Kid contributor, age 13

good

it was a very good movie and I think it also had a great messege
4


Posted on 07/04/08 by Ella6 Kid contributor, age 12

This movie is HILARIOUS...

I really enjoyed this movie and I thought it was really great, but some of the humor and comments are not the best choice. It is probably not a good movie for kids under age 6. I would recommend this movie to kids around my age.
4


Posted on 06/09/08 by expert_reviewer Kid contributor, age 13

FLIP U CSM !!!!

Forget what common sense says this is an awsome movie that is alittle sad in parts and it is hilarous.
4


Posted on 04/06/07 by bettydancer1995 Kid contributor, age 11

4


Posted on 08/04/06 by upperroom Kid contributor, age 11

4

Posted on 09/18/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

4


Posted on 12/03/04 by gcluver193 Kid contributor, age 11

5


Posted on 08/14/04 by Queen2B87 Kid contributor, age 11

4


Posted on 01/04/04 by ElmoRock3113 Kid contributor, age 14

OK movie

This movie was pretty funny. I think that some younger kids wouldn't get some of the jokes. There was some sexual content and jokes but nothing too offensive. I kept seeing the words Crate and Barrel. It's a funny movie but it doesn't have a moral.
5


Posted on 01/03/04 by Gandalf Kid contributor, age 10

This movie was hilarious!

I enjoyed this movie because it was funny and the family really stuck together!
See all 13 kids reviews >
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