Steve Martin returns as the proud patriarch of the Baker family in this sequel to the original CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, based on a book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth. This time, all twelve Baker kids and their parents, Tom (Martin) and Kate (Bonnie Hunt), are going on vacation, returning to their summer cabin in Wisconsin for one last hurrah before the kids grow up and go their separate ways. Lorraine (Hilary Duff) is on her way to New York to begin an internship with VOGUE, Nora (Piper Perabo) is hugely pregnant, and the Bakers want to spend some quality time all together for a change. As the family arrives at their old house, however, they realize that some things have changed--and some things never do. Tom's old high school rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy) is now the big man about town, owning much of the surrounding area, and raising his large family in a huge home across the lake from the Bakers'. The longstanding competition between the two families--or at least that of the fathers--mounts over the course of their vacation, as the two men resort to ever nastier tactics of one-upsmanship. Meanwhile, Charlie Baker (Tom Welling) becomes closer with Anne Murtaugh (Jamie King), and Sarah (Alyson Stoner) embarks on her first romance with Eliot Murtaugh (Taylor Lautner). It all comes to a head when the two families face off in a canoeing race, during which they are faced with a decision between loyalty to family and friends, and the competitive edge.
Theatrical Release: December 21, 2005
Blu-ray Disc Features:
Region [unknown]
Stars
Steve Martin: American actor/comedian/director/writer
Bonnie Hunt: American actress, BEETHOVEN
Piper Perabo: Actress
Tom Welling: Actor
Hilary Duff:
Eugene Levy: SCTV alumnus
Alyson Stoner: Actor, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2003)
Forrest Landis: Actor, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2003)
Taylor Lautner: Actor, ADVENTURES OF SHARK BOY AND LAVA GIRL IN 3D (2005)
Carmen Electra: Star, BAYWATCH (1989)
Jamie King: Model/Actress, BLOW, PEARL HARBOR (2001)
Director
Adam Shankman: Choreographer/director
Producer
Shawn Levy: American director, BIG FAT LIAR/NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Ben Myron: Producer, THE MOD SQUAD/CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2
Screenwriter
Sam Harper: Screenwriter, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR/CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
Cinematographer
Peter James: Director of Photography, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
Executive Producer
Jennifer Gibgot: Producer, THE WEDDING PLANNER/CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2
Executive Producer
Adam Shankman: Choreographer/director
Review 1:
"[A] family comedy that is actually involving, even believable, and manages to be pretty funny too."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.E3 12/21/2005