Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Flat remake has diversity, positive messages, mild language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this remake suffers from poor writing and lackluster performances, with many expressing disappointment over its heavy political messaging and awkward attempts at humor. While some appreciate the representation of diverse families, others find it inappropriate for younger viewers due to sexual references and a disjointed plot that detracts from the essence of the original.
- poor writing
- political messaging
- inappropriate content
- lackluster performances
- diverse representation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Paul (Zach Braff) and Zoey (Gabrielle Union) Baker are a married couple at the head of a large blended family in CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN. Together, they parent 10 kids, including some they each brought to the marriage, some they had together, one they adopted as a baby, and one they've taken in. They also bring their ex-spouses into the mix, including flighty part-time babysitter Kate (Erika Christensen) and wealthy former pro-baller Dom (Timon Kyle Durrett). Paul is White and Zoey is Black, and their kids are White, Black, or mixed race, a blend that offers its own challenges in modern society. When the Bakers are offered a substantial sum of money to launch a line of sauces and then franchise their breakfast joint, they take the money and upgrade their lives. But their new fancy lifestyle doesn't suit all of the kids, and the franchise starts keeping Paul away from home too much.
Is It Any Good?
This movie's heart is in the right place, but the latest version of this familiar concept is a bit of a clunker. Right from the start, something feels off in Cheaper by the Dozen. The film bounces from family scene to family scene, not getting to any serious story or conflict until at least a third of the way in. Are the kids cute? Of course, and some of their antics are heartwarming and/or funny. A few sequences hit their mark, like when dad Paul tries to dress cool in his kids' clothes for a business meeting (and he walks right out of his son's too-big sneakers), but many of the attempts at comedy will entertain only the very youngest of viewers.
This makes the repetition of serious and justified themes of racism incoherent, as they're not tailored to such a young audience. There are also a few places where actions don't seem to match the values that this film aims to convey, like parents regularly giving kids very expensive gifts. Braff and Union are both solid actors, but they don't have any real chemistry together and feel miscast (especially Braff). The kids are unrealistically compliant, and the extravagant new life the family builds overnight using business seed money is dubious. The secondary cast is fine, with a few of the child actors standing out. The dozen have been done better before.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the creative, ideological, and financial reasons why companies remake movies that have been done before, like Cheaper by the Dozen. If you've seen any of the other versions of this film, how do they compare?
Dom tells Paul that he can't understand racism because he hasn't lived it, and Zoey says the same thing to Paul about privilege. Do you agree with these characters? Why, or why not?
The family decides they liked their humbler life better than the new, luxurious one. Does money always make you happier? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 18, 2022
- Cast : Gabrielle Union , Zach Braff , Erika Christensen
- Director : Gail Lerner
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Disney+
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some crude humor and mild language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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