Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)

7% of critics liked it
(92 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(544,629 ratings)

The jumbo-sized Baker family are back in this sequel to the 2003 box-office hit Cheaper by the Dozen. College football coach Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and his wife, author Kate Baker (Bonnie Hunt), have decided its time they took their sizable brood of 12 children on a summer vacation, and so they… More The jumbo-sized Baker family are back in this sequel to the 2003 box-office hit Cheaper by the Dozen. College football coach Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and his wife, author Kate Baker (Bonnie Hunt), have decided its time they took their sizable brood of 12 children on a summer vacation, and so they pack up the cars and take the kids to Lake Winnetka for some camping. Not all the kids are happy about this, but the one who is really annoyed turns out to be Tom, who discovers his old rival Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy) is also staying near the lake. Jimmy and his trophy wife, Sarina (Carmen Electra), also have a large family of eight children, and Jimmy and Tom seem intent upon one-upping each other at every opportunity. As the tensions mount, the Baker family and the Murtaugh clan face off in a not-so-good-natured series of family games to determine which of the parents have the greater bragging rights. In addition to Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, the actors playing the 12 Baker children from the 2003 film return for Cheaper by the Dozen 2, including Hilary Duff, Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, and Kevin Schmidt. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Adam Shankman
Written By: Sam Harper
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Dec 21, 2005 Wide
On DVD: May 23, 2006
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader
There's a discernible lack of enthusiasm from almost everyone involved, and Duff, who's gone from wholesome to haggard in two short years, is flat-out scary.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
This is definitely a family trip to stay home and skip.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
There's something pernicious about a toxic mix of sitcom and snickering sex jokes getting packaged and effectively sold as wholesome fun for the family.
Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly
A family fantasy that plays at being happy and picture-perfect but primarily comes off as fake and dismayingly unfunny.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I wonder how many meetings they had before they came up with that title. And didn't we just see this movie a couple of weeks ago, and wasn't it called Yours, Mine and Ours?
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
It aims to be pleasant and good-natured, which it is. There are enough laughs scattered throughout to keep everything moderately amusing, and the cast is likeable.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is so incredibly bland and by the numbers it's painful to watch ... it's just a collection of unfunny moments that are both uninteresting and annoying.
Paul Chambers, CNNRadio
I was convinced I was going to hate this film. But, it didn't bug me as much as I thought it would.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
I think it should be considered child abuse to inflict this tripe upon children.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Brain-numbing sequel to a bad 2003 movie. Beware.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
A sequel every bit as bland, forced and flat as the generic 2003 comedy which spawned it.
Carolyn Arends, Christianity Today
Its heart is in the right place, but a reliance on gimmicks and sentiment undermines the story. In the end, both the laughs and the tears here come just a little too cheap.
Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald
All I wanted to do was rent Ron Howard's Parenthood again just to remind myself that Steve Martin once made a film about families that was both honest and funny.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Martin and Levy mug for their close-ups and then retire to their trailers while the stunt doubles do the really hard work.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
'Cheaper by the Dozen 2' is one of the reasons that movie viewership dropped off in 2005.
Helen OHara, Empire Magazine
A couple of good chuckles can't redeem this sappy mess.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
A miserable experience filled with crude slapstick, cruder sentiment and retrograde jokes.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dead A

I think the first one was better. This one looked just lame. And what happened to the first son's girlfriend? They looked so lovey dovey in the first movie. And what happened to Hilary? I mean she looked so old over here.
Bethany M

As good as the first film! A must see!
Manu G

Saw it again!!! Good family movie to have a few laughs and enjoy. The Baker Family begins to undergo many changes,beginning with Lorraine(Hillary Duff), and her desire to go study in New York. Their oldest daughter,Nora(Piper Perabo),is now married To Bud McNulty,and pregnant. But… More
Saw it again!!! Good family movie to have a few laughs and enjoy. The Baker Family begins to undergo many changes,beginning with Lorraine(Hillary Duff), and her desire to go study in New York. Their oldest daughter,Nora(Piper Perabo),is now married To Bud McNulty,and pregnant. But the couple intend to move to Houston Texas,Because of Bud's new job promotion. Feeling that the family is breaking apart,as the children grow up and move away. Tom 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 are also there for the summer. Jimmy constantly flaunts his wealth and success to Tom, as well of the accomplishemnts of his children,constantly suggesting to Tom that the Baker children are less successful,because of Tom's parenting style. During the movie, Sarah Baker and Elliot Murtaugh,go on a date,where they are spied on by their fathers. In the end of the movie, the Bakers and the Murtaughs,become friends, when during a canoe race, Nora goes into labor, and the 2 families,work together to get Nora to the hospital. Nora gives birth to a baby boy,whom they name Tom.In the end,back at the lake Nora and Bud say good-bye to Nora's family,and Nora,Bud and the baby head off To Houston,Texas.
Bently L

Very different from the first film. The story is more complex and the humor is more cruder. Steve Martin again delivers a funny performance and so does Eugene Levy. Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Baker is again funny and Carmen Electra needed some help but she was okay. There are like twenty… More
Very different from the first film. The story is more complex and the humor is more cruder. Steve Martin again delivers a funny performance and so does Eugene Levy. Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Baker is again funny and Carmen Electra needed some help but she was okay. There are like twenty kids in the flick and maybe only half of them were good actors. The ones that did well were Hilary Duff, Alison Stoner, and Taylor Lautner. Yes, Taylor "Sexy Abs" Lautner is in this. Though not as good as the first, it still delivers zany fun for the whole family! Cheaper by the Dozen 3 is in development right now. I hope its better.
Richard C

D
Cassie H

The best of the Cheaper By The Dozen movies :) It's a great movie to watch with your family too! :) You laugh & spend time with your family :) Steve Martin & Eugene Levy are hilarious :)
KJ P

Cheaper by the dozen 2, doesn't do much for me, it is a little funnier than the original at some points, but the original just has more heart!
Conner R

Another installment in the family from hell. It's just as corny as the first, although this one is so bad it's almost funny. It's essentially the same plot as the first, except they're on vacation this time and have a rival family to deal with. Ultimately though,… More
Another installment in the family from hell. It's just as corny as the first, although this one is so bad it's almost funny. It's essentially the same plot as the first, except they're on vacation this time and have a rival family to deal with. Ultimately though, it just shows you why your lucky you don't have 11 brothers and sisters.
Jason O

I never knew the original was a remake until long after I saw it. It was hilarious, and so is this sequel, which I liked even better. I'm real competitive so I loved watching the rivalry throughout, and the drama and comedy balance is even.
Jani H

"Tire swing ready! " Don't you just love sequels to mediocre family fun films! The first film about the Baker family was kinda funny and had some really good Steve Martin gags. This one again, not so good... Mr Martin acts like he has eaten too many "happy"… More
"Tire swing ready! " Don't you just love sequels to mediocre family fun films! The first film about the Baker family was kinda funny and had some really good Steve Martin gags. This one again, not so good... Mr Martin acts like he has eaten too many "happy" pills, making him do everything on overdrive. Rest of the family just play along and supports Martin's stuff. The film obviously had some sort of a message, but I guess I missed it because I really couldn't focus on the movie. Why? Maybe beacuse it isn't that good or that funny? Yeah, that must be it. "Tire swing, not ready!"
Bobby H

For a sequal this movie was good! (I didnt even realise it was a sequal, until I started watching int - i didnt know they made another one, I was just going to rewawtch the first ). But turns out it was funny, and worth a watch. Especially good for a family movie.
Rachel F

Better than the first one.
Leigh R

It was alright. Not as charismatic as the 1st.
Aliyanto L

This sequel really spoiled the prequel!
Dean M

More great hilarious sequel with a big family at their summer vacation and turns into an outrageous competition against Tom's long-time rival, Jimmy and his big family.
Roy G

Unfortunately in this instance, more doesn't make merry, only mayhem.
Cassandra M

boring
Sanjaya &

Not good as the first one, but Steve Martin stills my fave daddy...
Dillon L

Much of the cast is wasted on this unfunny and completely lame sequel to a remake.
Bryce I

When the humor is only directed at the kids, there is not much left for everyone else, but to roll their eyes at every excessive scene set with even more banal humor than the first remake.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Steve Martin as Tom Baker

            Eugene Levy as Jimmy Murtaugh

            Bonnie Hunt as Kate Baker

            Hilary Duff as Lorraine Baker

            Tom Welling as Charlie Baker

            Piper Perabo as Nora Baker-McNulty

            Carmen Electra as Sarina Murtaugh

            Peter Keleghan as Mike Romanow

            Shawn Levy as Hospital Intern

            Adam Shankman as Clam Bake Chef

            Jennifer Parsons as Doobner Mom

            Jacob Smith as Jake Baker

            Trevor Smith as Security Guard

            Jaime King as Anne Murtaugh

            Haylee Wanstall as Doobner Daughter

            Kevin Schmidt as Henry Baker

            Seth Howard as Clam Baker Server

            Liliana Mumy as Jessica Baker

            Matthew Knight as Theatre Kid

            Brent Kinsman as Nigel Baker

            Shane Kinsman as Kyle Baker

            Alyson Stoner as Sarah Baker

            Jonathan Bennett as Bud McNulty

            Forrest Landis as Mark Baker

            Morgan York as Kim Baker

            Blake Woodruff as Mike Baker

            Shawn Roberts as Calvin Murtaugh

            Sam Kalilieh as Doctor

            Taylor Lautner as Eliot Murtaugh

            Melanie Tonello as Becky Murtaugh

            Alexander Conti as Kenneth Murtaugh

            William Copeland as The Commodore

            Robbie Amell as Daniel Murtaugh

            Courtney Fitzpatrick as Lisa Murtaugh

            Madison Fitzpatrick as Robin Murtaugh

            Damon Runyan as Tennis Pro

            Graham Losee as Theatre Usher

            Lee Macdougall as Doobner Dad

            Dylan Rosenthal as Doobner Older Son

            Ely Henry as Doobner Younger Son

            Enid Rose as Announcer at Graduation

            Kristen Dulmage as Clam Bake Piano Player
See full cast