Cheaper by the Dozen 2

Cheaper By The Dozen 2
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Adam Shankman
Produced by	Shawn Levy Ben Myron
Written by	Sam Harper
Starring	Steve Martin Eugene Levy Bonnie Hunt Tom Welling Piper Perabo Hilary Duff
Music by	John Debney
Cinematography	Peter James
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	December 21, 2005 (2005-12-21)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$60 million (est)[1]
Box office	$135,015,330[1]

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is a 2005 film produced by 20th Century Fox. It is the sequel to the family comedy film Cheaper by the Dozen (2003). Shawn Levy, the director of the first film, did not return as director for this sequel, which was instead directed by Adam Shankman (The Pacifier). Levy was a producer of the film and made an appearance as a hospital intern in the movie. Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Piper Perabo, Alyson Stoner and Tom Welling reprise their roles as members of the twelve-child Baker family. Eugene Levy co-stars as the patriarch of a rival family of 8 children. Carmen Electra portrays Levy's trophy wife.

The film was shot in Toronto and Eugene Levy's hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada^[2] and on Stoney Lake in Burleigh Falls, Ontario. It includes the book Green Eggs and Ham and the film Ice Age.

Plot

The Baker family begins to undergo many changes, beginning with Lorraine (Hilary Duff) and her desire to study in New York. Their oldest daughter Nora (Piper Perabo) is now married to Bud McNulty (Jonathan Bennett) and pregnant, but the couple intend to move to Houston because of Bud's new job promotion.

Feeling that the family is breaking apart as the children grow up and move away, Tom (Steve Martin) persuades the entire family to take one last family vacation all together at Lake Winnetka. Tom's old rival Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy) and his large family (with "only" eight kids) are also there for the summer. Jimmy constantly flaunts his wealth and success to Tom, as well of the accomplishments of his children, often suggesting to Tom that the Baker children are less successful because of Tom's parenting style. The Baker kids get into many accidents, many of which are accidental. Some examples are short scenes, such as the scene where Mark Baker (Forrest Landis), along with Kenny Murtaugh, crash into a tennis court with a golf cart and ruin the court, Sarah Baker (Alyson Stoner) stealing merchandise from a gift shop, and Mark Baker accidentally setting a backpack of fireworks on fire, causing widespread panic, especially when the backpack of fireworks is thrown into a boat, igniting the boat's engine and causing it to explode.

Jimmy again starts the topic that Tom needs to use a firmer hand on his kids. Tom is angered by this and they decide to settle the matter using the Annual Family Cup. Tom trains the kids for days, not realizing that they are miserable. Soon Sarah and Elliott Murtaugh (Taylor Lautner) go on a date at a Movie theatre watching Ice Age, where they are spied on by their fathers, leading an argument between the two and humilating their children. Sarah is furious and refuses compete for her father in the "stupid cup!" while Elliott rebels against his father and continues to spend time with Sarah.

Everyone, including Kate, is angry with Tom; for not only spying on Sarah, but for also ruining the entire trip by his competitiveness with the Murtaugh family. Tom goes to the Annual Family Games to compete for the cup with Nigel and Kyle (the only two who are willing to go while the others abandon Tom). Kate and the rest of the family soon show up, showing that they forgive Tom and are willing to compete for the cup. Near the end of the games, the Bakers and the Murtaughs work together to get Nora to the hospital as she goes into labor. While Bud, Lorraine and Kate go with Nora in the emergency room, Tom, Jimmy and the rest of the kids wait in the waiting room. While talking to Jimmy, Tom realizes that he has to let his kids grow, but wherever they go, they will always be with him; and he will always be with them. Nora gives birth to a baby boy whom they name Tom in honor of her father, who has shown them "there is no way to be a perfect parent, but a million ways to be a really good one."

The movie ends with the Murtaughs and the Bakers having a barbecue at their cottage. While Tom and Kate are dancing on the end of the boardwalk, it breaks lose from the dock and begins to float away, but the two ignore it and continue dancing while the credits roll.

Cast

The Bakers

• Steve Martin as Tom Baker, the main protagonist. In the first film he is seen as the typical family man, but his competitive and protective side emerges in the second film as he feels the need to keep his family together.

• Bonnie Hunt as Kate Baker, Tom Baker's wife. While she's supportive of Tom's efforts to keep the family close, she also sees that Tom's attempts are also pushing their children away from him.

• Piper Perabo as Nora Baker-McNulty, now married and pregnant. She is seen as more involved with her family but is still keen on getting away. She is much more mature and independent. Breaking up with her old boyfriend Hank in the first movie, she is now married to a kinder man named Bud McNulty.

• Tom Welling as Charlie Baker, now broken up with his girlfriend Beth, finds a connection with Anne Murtaugh, when they struggle with what they want to do versus their fathers' expectations of them.

• Hilary Duff as Lorraine Baker, more fashion forward, still obsessed with beauty and perfection, she is seen as the girly-girl type of the family and is still resentful of nature. With her recent graduation from high school, she wants to attend school in New York.

• Kevin G. Schmidt as Henry Baker, not so obsessed with his clarinet anymore but still musically talented

• Alyson Stoner as Sarah Baker, who becomes insecure of her tomboyish nature and love of sports when she develops a crush on Elliot Murtaugh.

• Jacob Smith as Jake Baker, loving the skateboards even though time has gone by. He is now seen as much older but still immature and obsessed with practical jokes.

• Forrest Landis as Mark Baker, the nature junky and is still vulnerable, agreeing to anything the mischievous enemies can think of.

• Morgan York as Kim Baker, one of the twins, still a genius and now more focused on computers and logic rather than the immaturity she and her sister shared.

• Liliana Mumy as Jessica Baker, still a fire cracker, very much like her twin sister.

• Blake Woodruff as Mike Baker, still mischievous and little but hilarious.

• Shane Kinsman as Kyle Winnetka Baker, the second group of twins now older, more understanding of his family's issues.

• Brent Kinsman as Nigel Lake Baker, same as twin brother. He and his brother still share a close relationship with Tom, unhindered by Tom's attempts to keep everyone close.

• Jonathan Bennett as Bud McNulty, Nora's husband and her son's father . He is seen as mushy and lovey-dovey but shows his manly side during the birth of his son.

The Murtaughs

• Eugene Levy as Jimmy Murtaugh, the main antagonist. He is seen as competitive and controlling of his children's life.

• Carmen Electra as Sarina Murtaugh, a former actress and Jimmy's third wife. She is seen as very open and exciting. She loves to wear revealing clothes showing her wild side but still a good mother to her step kids.

• Jaime King as Anne Murtaugh, the lovely, former hideous, daughter of Jimmy. She is nicknamed Superstar by her dad for being the most successful child of all eight and is also her father's favorite, against her wishes. She gets a tattoo as a sign she resents her dad's expectations of her.

• Shawn Roberts as Calvin Murtaugh, handsome and tall, but also extremely air headed and proud, just like his father.

• Robbie Amell as Daniel Murtaugh, he is similar to Calvin.

• Taylor Lautner as Elliot Murtaugh, an eight grade honor student who plays several sports, musically attuned, and very kind. He is quite innocent and lovable. He has a crush on Sarah Baker.

• Alexander Conti as Kenneth Murtaugh, a frenemy of Mark, getting Mark in to trouble constantly.

• Melanie Tonello as Becky Murtaugh, she is not seen much throughout the film, but like her siblings, a classic over-achiever.

• Madison Fitzpatrick as Robin Murtaugh, she and her sister are always seen together though they are also not introduced very much.

• Courtney Fitzpatrick as Lisa Murtaugh, she is the same as her twin sister.

Production

The film was shot in Toronto and Eugene Levy's hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.^[2] The scenes at Lakeside High School were filmed at St. Andrew's College. The lake and cottage scenes were located at Rockwood, Ontario, and Burleigh Falls, Ontario on Stoney Lake.

Soundtrack

01 I Wish – Stevie Wonder

02 Graduation Day Song – Joseph L. Altruda

03 Mexicali Mondays – Christopher Lightbody and Robert Steinmiller

04 What If – Gina Rene

05 Martini Lounge – David Sparkman

06 Drinks on the House –07 Big Sky Lullaby – Daniel May

08 09 Express Yourself – Jason Mraz

10 Michael Finnegan – Traditional

11 Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Traditional

12 Why Can’t We Be Friends – War

13 Die Walküre – Richard Wagner

14 Theme from Jaws – John Williams

15 Mallin – Tree Adams

16 Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie

17 Music from ‘Ice Age’ – David Newman

18 Holiday – Madonna

19 Sunday Morning (Acoustic Version) – Maroon 5

20 Bridal Chorus – Richard Wagner

Reception

Reviews for the film were overwhelmingly negative. Rotten Tomatoes ranked Cheaper by the Dozen 2 98th in the 100 worst reviewed films of the 2000s, with a rating of 7% based on 89 reviews of the film.^[3] Critic Roger Ebert, however, gave this film a positive 3/4 stars, stating "As I watched this sequel, a certain good feeling began to make itself known. Yes, the movie is unnecessary. However, it is unnecessary at a higher level of warmth and humor than the recent remake Yours, Mine, and Ours."

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Cheaper by the Dozen 2 - Box Office Data". The Numbers. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/CHEP2.php. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Internet Movie Database - List of Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario". http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Hamilton,+Ontario,+Canada. Retrieved 2008-01-29. 
3. ^ "The Worst of the Worst Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/features/special/2007/wotw/?r=4&mid=1119026. Retrieved 2010-04-10. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Cheaper by the Dozen 2 at the Internet Movie Database
• Cheaper by the Dozen 2 at AllRovi
• Cheaper by the Dozen 2 at Rotten Tomatoes
• Cheaper by the Dozen 2 at Box Office Mojo