Python Hyena Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005): Dir: Adam Shankman / Cast: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Eugene Levy, Carmen Electra, Hilary Duff: Unnecessary sequel about a larger than large family. When Tom Baker realizes that his children are growing up and pursuing opportunities elsewhere he decides to get the whole family together for one last assemble at the old lake. Unfortunately it is bought by an old rival with a big family of his own. This leads to an aged competition that goes back and forth for the rest of the film. Standard screenplay with very little to surprise anyone. Directed by Adam Shankman who previously made the unremarkable The Wedding Planner. He does his best with what little he is given. Steve Martin is involved in several mishaps while trying to encourage family activities. Bonnie Hunt is the voice of reason as she was before. Eugene Levy joins as the standard rival who acts like he is twelve, and Carmen Electra plays his much younger wife who is surprisingly understanding but still pretty cardboard. Hilary Duff makes an appearance as one of Martin's daughters but it is merely just a celebrity appearance. Nobody seems challenged, least of all of production designer. The children get older but that is hardly the purpose here. This film exits purely due to success of the first film, which is watchable at best. This film got cheaper by several dozen. Score: 1 / 10

Jackson Booth-Millard The first film was a near good return for the lead actor, and this sequel from director Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House) is no different to its predecessor. Basically Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate (Jumanji's Bonnie Hunt) feel they are losing some of their (older) kids as they get ready to leave for their own lives, e.g daughter Nora (Piper Perabo), now married to Bud McNulty (Jonathan Bennett) and expecting a baby, Lorraine (Razzie nominated Hilary Duff) is getting ready to go to New York for an internship with Vogue, and son Charlie (Smallville's Tom Welling) is leaving (I think for college or whatever). So Tom thinks it would be a good idea if he and Kate take all twelve kids on a camping vacation, and would have been perfect if Tom wasn't in an old rivalry with ultra-competitive neighbour Jimmy Murtaugh (American Pie's Razzie nominated Eugene Levy), with wife Sarina (Carmen Electra) and their eight kids. It is obviously when trying to make themselves look better, or trying to the make the Murtaugh's look foolish where all the disaster comes from, so Tom and Jimmy decide to settle it once and for all in a family sports day, and thank goodness both families can't beat each other when daughter Nora has her water break. Also starring Sin City's Jaime King as Anne Murtaugh, Taylor Lautner as Eliot Murtaugh, Alyson Stoner as Sarah Baker, Small Soldiers' Jacob Smith as Jake Baker, Liliana Mumy as Jessica Baker, Morgan York as Kim Baker, Kevin G. Schmidt as Henry Baker, Forrest Landis as Mark Baker, Brent and Shane Kinsman as twins Nigel and Kyle Baker, Blake Woodruff as Mike Baker, Alexander Conti as Kenneth Murtaugh, Melanie Tonello as Becky Murtaugh, Robbie Amell as Daniel Murtaugh, Courtney Fitzpatrick as Lisa Murtaugh, Madison Fitzpatrick as Robin Murtaugh and Shawn Roberts as Calvin Murtaugh. I think this is worth seeing for the funny chaotic events of young children, and Martin and Levy having their disagreements. Okay!

vip_ebriega My Take: Trite, predictable family diversion. After having dismissing it as a simple-minded family picture for many times, I gave CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, a very loose adaptation of a novel by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, a try and it turned out to be a surprise delight. It wasn't perfect, maybe not even formula, but I was delighted by it. It was a lot of fun and it never seemed to run our of energy, especially for the always funny Steve Martin. Martin is back in this sequel, and so is much of the same cast, Bonnie Hunt in particular. Joining the original cast is a new set of players including American PIE regular Eugene Levy, parody-movie regular Carmen Electra and another batch of kids and teens. This is CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2, and if I was wrong about the first film, I was more wrong to think this one will be better.In this sequel, the family that couldn't get along leaves all their indifference behind a long time ago. Now their one big, happy family. While going on a camping vacation (as usual, they have to live inside a rotten, old cabin), they get into some competition with dad Tom Baker's (Martin) old rival Jimmy Murtaugh (Levy) and his family, composed of sexy wife Sarina (Electra) and eight children. See Murtaugh is athletic and daring while Tom only wishes that his kids (jealous as always) would have a better vacation. So on goes a series of challenges and competitions they go through, fighting for who gets the better summer this year.Unfortunately, it might have not been the audience. Having missed it on the big screen, I caught CHEAPER 2 on TV and, since I wasn't really anticipating anything (a sequel to CHEAPER is nothing big to get excited about). That probably helps to be able to enjoy a movie like this. But while lowering your expectations might help at being kind to your response to it, that doesn't necessarily mean liking it. Martin and Levy (funny men, by the way) are at their best efforts, as Hunt playing responsible mother Kate, but they can't shine in a script than limits what they can do. Kids, as usual, will drag you to the video store to rent or buy it, and maybe you should. But don't be surprised if you won't like it. It really isn't made for you.Rating: ** out of 5.

Dark Flame I Think Sarah and Elliot make a great couple. He is so cute. How are you supposed to spell Elliot, some spell it Elliot and others spell it Eliot. Yeah well i don't care what anyone else says. How much they diss the movies , I'll Still like them. And will still wait for the next one. Does anyone else find Elliot/Eliot cute or is it just me? I guess i got a little crush on him. He is such a good movie. Im hoping that if there is a 3rd movie he will be in it. He might be though because Nora the oldest sister moved into the house across the river from them. But they probably wont. If there is going to be a 3rd Movie i can not wait. I have only had the movie for a day, And I've already lost count of how many times i watched it. Anonymous