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Cheaper
by the Dozen
Opens Jan 15 Cast: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo 12 Monkeys
Since 1929, the appearances of Scotty, Darla, Porky, Spanky, Buckwheat, Bubbles and Alfafa revolutionised the term The Little Rascals on our television sets. Throughout each of the 90 over episodes that aired, these kids gave the adult audience a chance to bring out the playful child in them. Fast-forward to 2004, to a movie based loosely on a novel by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. titled Cheaper by the Dozen. Unlike The Little Rascals, the book is based on his real family of 12 children - or little rascals. Adapted into a movie in 1950, it has now been updated into more modern settings. The father of the bride returns and is now a dad of 12. Tom Baker (Steve Martin) is the man of the household, coach of a small Illinois football team and a loving husband. Everything was normal and smooth sailing till Tom decides to uproot the entire family to suburban Chicago so he could take up his dream job of coaching his alma mater's football team. In the midst of career heaven, his writer-wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) finds a publisher for her memoir (cheekily titled Cheaper by the Dozen to probably remind you that you're still watching the same film!) and she needs to go away for a promotional book tour. This leaves Tom to handle all the children while coping with a demanding new job, which is when the real comedy kicks in, even if dad minding the kids is no longer as big a joke as it was in 1950 Tom Welling, Hilary Duff and the uncredited Ashton Kutcher also star in this family comedy. Surprisingly, Kutcher leaves a more lasting impression in the few scenes he had as eldest sister Nora's (Piper Perabo) loser boyfriend than the others combined. He seems in danger of being typecast, what with his unfortunate success as another born loser in the hit television comedy, That 70's Show. Kutcher is also the infamous co-creator of the now defunct celebrity prank show, Punk'd. But in this movie, the children punk'd played pranks on him instead. In order to make up for the weak storyline, a thin excuse for slapstick humour, the clever casting of teen television idols Tom Welling of Smallville and Hillary Duff of Lizzy McGuire are at least bound to attract the curious hormonal age group.
Nevertheless, when the jokes come you can't help but wish you were part of the fun the Bakers are having. Just like The Little Rascals, the children in Cheaper are a bundle of infectious energy. Trust director Shawn Levy to bring out the laughs though his track record of hit shows isn't outstanding. His Batman spin-off TV series Birds of Prey was canned in the US before the season ended and his previous 2 movies Just Married and Big Fat Liar bombed at the box office. His only exception is the success of The Secret World of Alex Mack. Perhaps that's why he gave himself a cameo in Cheaper to give the movie a boost. Do stay for the out takes, as they are sure to make you laugh - perhaps even funnier than some of the jokes in the movie. Timed nicely to open just before the year of the monkey to attract the family crowd, perhaps these 12 monkeys are a good omen after all. Rating: 3 stars |
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