After Father of the Bride was such a success, it was a no-brainer as to who would play the overwhelmed dad in the remake of Cheaper by the Dozen: Steve Martin! When you watch him in it, and the subsequent sequel, you start to believe he really has a dozen kids of his own and is drawing from his actual experiences to perfectly portray the frazzled parent with an endless supply of love. How hilarious is it that he hadn't yet experienced fatherhood when he made these movies? Just as I'll always associate Dennis Quaid as the dad in The Parent Trap, I'm sure there are millennials out there who think of Steve Martin as the quintessential papa from all these movies.
Without a doubt, the section that will keep every parent laughing is when Bonnie Hunt leaves for her book tour, leaving Steve Martin in charge of their dozen. It's more than just a comedy routine, it's a realistic circus that looks familiar to anyone with even two children, let alone twelve. When Steve gets fed up and tells his kids they're grounded, one responds with, "What's grounded?"
With a soundtrack that will keep the teenagers happy, lots of small children to keep the little ones happy, and exhausted parents to keep the exhausted parents happy, you can definitely rent this one for family night. Depending on how sentimental you're feeling at the time, you might even get a lump in your throat as Steve gets to show off his acting chops towards the end of the movie.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Steve Martin hangs from the chandelier, the camera spins and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Without a doubt, the section that will keep every parent laughing is when Bonnie Hunt leaves for her book tour, leaving Steve Martin in charge of their dozen. It's more than just a comedy routine, it's a realistic circus that looks familiar to anyone with even two children, let alone twelve. When Steve gets fed up and tells his kids they're grounded, one responds with, "What's grounded?"
With a soundtrack that will keep the teenagers happy, lots of small children to keep the little ones happy, and exhausted parents to keep the exhausted parents happy, you can definitely rent this one for family night. Depending on how sentimental you're feeling at the time, you might even get a lump in your throat as Steve gets to show off his acting chops towards the end of the movie.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Steve Martin hangs from the chandelier, the camera spins and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"