Such a frustrating disappointment

Beautiful, moving film.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Really dull and the pregnant daughter stands around holding her supposed belly way too much. I've never seen a real pregnant woman hold onto their bellies as much as she did in that movie and I was one a few times. The whole movie is filled with contrived scenes you can guess will lead to other predictable supposedly funny or emotional scenes.

There is an annoying basic quality to Cheaper by the Dozen 2; one that prevents even the slightest bit of subtlety and low-key drama to occur. The film is a sequel to the 2003 remake of the 1950's film, and explaining this kind of convolution takes more than this film deserves.We reacquaint with the Baker clan, lead by the patriarch Tom (Steve Martin) and his wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) as they still try and raise their twelve children, all of whom are beginning to mature in some way. Dating, the quest for individuality, and personal freedom all become things the Baker children want but are at odds with their domineering father, who stands in their way of achieving them.Noticing the family is divided and uninterested in the things they once were, Tom effortlessly sets up a vacation at the family's lake house in Lake Winnetka, which will serve as their last vacation for quite sometime seeing as how Nora Baker (Piper Perabo) is due for a baby any day now and will certainly be preoccupied. Their plan for a quiet get-together is unfortunately interrupted by the likes of Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy), Tom's old rival from yesteryear and his clan of children as well.Things will of course take the competitive route as Tom challenges Jimmy to a family battle for the annual Labor Day family cup, where both families will compete in a series of perfunctory challenges in order to be crowned the Lake Winnetka's fortieth winner of the cup.The film is a cheap, consistently unfunny drudge through the "maximum antics, minimum laughter" sector of comedy, where situational, sitcom humor and physical gags take the place of actual verbal wit. One could hope for some geniality and warmness in the script, but after hearing the plot, where is the warmth in watching two overbearing fathers use their children as military-men in a competition at a lake house and completely disregard their children's own personal feelings? In a film where one of the morals seems to be an active pursuit of adulthood and maturity there are sure a lot of people acting like prepubescent adolescents here.One would optimistically assume that the presence of Eugene Levy will level things out to a moderately acceptable level, but even Levy drastically underplays his role as an overbearing family-man. If one is even vaguely acquainted with Levy's career as an actor, they know he could've played this role way over the top, to unforeseeable comedic heights, emphasizing all his character's own personal flaws while making us laugh at him at the same time.Instead, Levy shrinks to the level of conventionality and interchangeability here, which is something I never thought I'd say about a unique actor, both in appearance and in acting craft. Put alongside Steve Martin, another actor of impeccable deadpanning craft and charm, both men seem to have all the life sucked out of them and only enough to call for a bottom-barrel film where the presence of a laugh seems to be next to non-existent.When Cheaper by the Dozen 2 isn't focusing on tired physical gags or nauseating sex puns, it holds a strong focus on its character Alyson Stoner of the Baker family, who develops a crush on Taylor Lautner's character of the Murtaugh family. She seeks lessons from her older sister Lorraine (Hillary Duff) in a scene that would've worked beautiful had the film had more time to develop it. There's a serious thesis about growing up, dating, and maturing in Cheaper By the Dozen 2, but too bad it's hampered by elements that do nothing but cheapen potentially ripe material.Starring: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Eugene Levy, Hillary Duff, Piper Perabo, Alyson Stoner, Tom Welling, Carmen Electra, Jaime King, and Taylor Lautner. Directed by: Adam Shankman.

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!

Cheaper by the dozen 2 is very nice and entertaining movie to see. I liked the first movie more but this one was still good. Cheaper by the dozen 2 is about the Baker's family vacation and mostly about Tom and his rivalry Jimmy Murtaugh and there competition. Unlike the first cheaper by the dozen, this one was focused more on the rivalry of Tom's and his enemy instead of mostly about the children. Tom is jealous and annoyed of Jimmy because he has a better home, well-behaved children, better furniture and a pretty wife. Alyson Stoner (Sarah Baker) did a great job in this movie, she was one of the many children with a main plot, she stole the show...great job. Hilary Duff (Lorraine Baker) and Tom Welling (Charlie Baker) also did great, the younger kids were kinda eh.This was a pretty funny movie, it had its funny moments, id recommend his movie, its worth watching, seriously