Daddy Day Care

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Eddie Murphy in slapstick potty humor comedy.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie has some mildly naughty words ("butthead," "screw up") and a lot of potty humor. There is also some comic violence and slapstick (including a brief appearance by the Three Stooges). Kids may be troubled by the idea of a parent losing a job.


What's the story?

Eddie Murphy plays Charlie, who loves his wife, Kim (Regina King) and 4-year-old son, Ben, but has trouble finding time for them due to a high pressure job in marketing. When his new product, breakfast cereal made from vegetables, is a flop, Charlie and his friend Phil (Jeff Garlin) are laid off. Kim has just started working, so Charlie stays home with Ben. The only preschool in town is the snooty Chamberlin Academy, where children in prep-school uniforms study Freud, Portuguese, and SAT vocabulary words. It is run by mean Ms. Harridan (Anjelica Houston). When Charlie and Phil can't find new jobs, they decide to start Daddy Day Care at Charlie's house.


Is it any good?

 

DADDY DAY CARE is the sort of movie that Hollywood can churn out in its collective sleep and audiences can watch without really waking up. It is as bland and predicable as a package of Kraft macaroni and cheese, but likely to please the same target audience. Its plot gives us 20 minutes for the set-up, 30 minutes for everything to go wrong, and 30 minutes for Charlie and Phil to clean up their act and for the bad guys to almost win and then lose, with a few minutes for "what really matters in life is family" lessons along the way. They throw in some diaper humor for those in the audience most recently involved with potty training, some lite rock classics and an appearance by an aging rock band (Cheap Trick) to make the parents in the audience feel hip, and of course the bloopers and out-takes during the credits.

The result is a movie that is undistinguished and undistinguishable but not too awful. It sags here and there, but picks up whenever Steve Zahn appears as an emergency recruit who may be a little spacey (in more senses than one), but who has knack for communicating with kids. But no one else seems to be trying very hard, including the people who spelled Anjelica Houston's name wrong in the credits (or maybe she just didn't want her real name on this movie).


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about how Charlie learned about what was important to him and how members of their own families show each other that family comes first. They could also talk about what the children learn from Phil, Charlie, and Marvin. What makes Tony want to be himself instead of Flash? Why wasn't Crispin polite before and why is it so important that he learned to be polite from Charlie?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
This funny movie is definitely one I'd see again!
This cute movie is full of kid humor, but there is some adult humor to go with it. I think this movie will really be enjoyed by kids from the ages of 4-11. I'll bet that you'll get a good laugh out of this one!

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
July 8, 2010
 
a funny movie for all ages
a very funny movie. theres some slapstic violence and a bit of language. in a scene he starts to spell out the f-word by covers it up by saying the rest of the alphabet. the scene were the flash kid goes missing is funny and the toilet part. a movie you can never get sick of. 2+

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
insulting
this is the kind of movie that makes you think that movie producers think kids are stupid and willing to watch anything.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
June 6, 2009
 
Kids won't get it
this is a hilarious movie, but not the best.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
May 2, 2010
 
this movie is funny and awsome but there is no eduacational value!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
May 24, 2009
 
My review
This movie was hilarious, but younger kids shouldn't see it on account of the swearing, and some violance to it. The potty humor is funny, but younger kids probably wont get it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
This movie is a fun, silly, laughing film. It is a tremendous hit for the whole family to enjoy. Daddy Day Care offers a lesson to be learned.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
January 7, 2011
 
FUNNY!!!! xD
You just gotta love Eddy Murphy! There is some mild violence but it's all very comical so nothing to worry about. There is quite a bit of potty talk and suck is used once or twice. It is a really cute and funny movie and I'm positive little ones will LOVE it since all the potty humor! :)

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
June 22, 2010
 
Daddy Day Suck
This was an ok movie, but I found myself getting bored of it after watching it at least 2 times. I remember thinking it was ok as a child, but now I know that it's just plain boring. It's still cute though!

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 19 year old
October 6, 2009
 
great funny movie
there is nothing overwelming about this movie exsept for the father losing his job and stuff. other than that it's funny movie that kids and young teens will enjoy

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Columbia Tristar
Director:Steve Carr
Cast:Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Regina King
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:90 minutes
Theatrical release date:May 9, 2003
DVD release date:September 23, 2003
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:language

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Daddy Day Care?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it