Steve Martin is one of the best comedic actor's of the last 30 years. Starting with the classic movie the Jerk and moving through to this year's hit Cheaper by the Dozen, he has had a steady career. Cheaper by the Dozen is a remake of the family film from the 50's that simply told a story. Steve Martin stars as dad, coach, husband and career minded person in this light hearted look at choices in life and the consequences of those choices.
Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and his first love Kate (Bonnie Hunt) were a match made in heaven. Having met in college, the two discovered that both wanted a large family. Both were career minded but felt that a big family was more important than the fast paced life of each's career choices. Boy did they get what they wanted. The two managed to have a dozen kids over the years and each gave up job opportunity's to live out the quiet small town life. That is until Tom's alma mater calls one day to offer him his dream job in the big city. Having raised the kids for nearly 22 years, Tom and Kate decide it's time that they get a shot at doing something for themselves.
Of course this is the context of the film. Just imagine uprooting not one or two kids from their familiar school and friends, no try 11 (the oldest is 22 and already out of the house). The hijinks that ensue are nothing short of hillarious. It's easy to see why this is one of the best selling DVD's this month. The casting people did a terrific job with choosing the various members of the family. The chemistry between the actors also works very well, making for a convincing family.
It's funny how a film can touch home on so many fronts. All of us face different choices each day and sometimes we make ones that unfortunately negatively affect others. However this film is a feel good film with an ending that should put a warm smile on anyone's face.
The Disc:
Fox Home Entertainment offers up both 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and 4:3 open matte versions on opposite sides of the disc giving those bigger families both options. We all know the debate between black bars or not could last forever with a family of 12, right? The disc looks great with no problems in the transfer. The comedic film also offers up a nice soundtrack in DD 5.1. While noone is going to find a great deal of surround activity here, there is a clear front loaded track that makes for enjoyable listening. Nothing super exciting here but enough to make for a pleasing track.
Extras on the disc begin with a pair of Audio Commentaries with director Shawn Levy and another with the kids Kevin Schmidt, Liliana Mumy, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith and Morgan York. Neither of these are very entertaining as the first is too technical while the kids are just goofy. Still you might want to listen just for the effect.
Next up is the five minute Director's Viewfinder: Creating a Fictional Family, which is quite interesting. Making a real family is hard enough but try choosing twelve fictional names! Another extra is the cutely named Orphans: Deleted and Extended Scenes. As with most cut scenes, these are mostly understandably omitted from the film. Finally there's an Inside Look at the upcoming Garfield movie.
bottom line:
Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt provide lots of comedy and chemistry in this lighthearted family film. There's lots of laughs and lots of life lessons here. Fox will hopefully follow up with a sequel as the original did back in the 1950's.
3.5 out of 5
By - Brian Gray
1/2
