Cheaper by the Dozen 2

Directed by
Adam Shankman

Writing credits
(WGA)
Sam Harper (written by)
Craig Titley (characters)
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (novel "Cheaper by the Dozen") (as Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr.)
Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (novel "Cheaper by the Dozen")

Release Date:
21 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:
Adventure | Comedy | Family

Cast :
The Bakers

Character Actor
Tom Baker Steve Martin
Kate Baker Bonnie Hunt
Nora Baker-McNulty Piper Perabo
Charlie Baker Tom Welling
Lorraine Baker Hilary Duff
Sarah Baker Alyson Stoner
Mark Baker Forrest Landis
Jake Baker Jacob Smith
Kim Baker Morgan York
Jessica Baker Liliana Mumy
Mike Baker Blake Woodruff
Henry Baker Kevin G. Schmidt
Kyle Winnetka Baker Shane Kinsman
Nigel Lake Baker Brent Kinsman
Bud McNulty Jonathan Bennett

The Murtaughs

Character Actor
Jimmy Murtaugh Eugene Levy
Sarina Murtaugh Carmen Electra
Annie Murtaugh Jaime King
Calvin Murtaugh Shawn Roberts
Daniel Murtaugh Robbie Amell
Elliot Murtaugh Taylor Lautner
Kenneth Murtaugh Alexander Conti
Becky Murtaugh Melanie Tonello
Robin Murtaugh Madison Fitzpatrick
Lisa Murtaugh Courtney Fitzpatrick

Original Sound Track :
-

Plot :
The Baker family begins to undergo many changes, beginning with Lorraine's high school graduation and Lorraine's desire to study in New York, much to Tom's dismay. Their eldest daughter Nora (Piper Perabo) is now married to Bud McNulty and pregnant, but the couple intend to move to Houston 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. However, 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 accomplishments of his children, constantly suggesting to Tom that the Baker children are less successful because of Tom's parenting style. However, Jimmy secretly still envies Tom's popularity in the past and how Tom always had everything that Jimmy ever wanted.

Meanwhile, the Baker children are unimpressed with the old and rustic house that they have camped in for many years, especially since a notorious thieving rat still lives there. Most of the kids opt to spend time at Murtaugh's opulent mansion and get along well with the eight Murtaugh children. Charlie (Tom Welling) connects with Anne Murtaugh over their uncertainties regarding their own career choices and what their fathers expect of them. Mark constantly ends up in trouble with the competitive Kenneth Murtaugh and Sarah and Eliot Murtaugh develop a mutual bond of affection. However, despite the successes of the Murtaugh family, Jimmy's wife Sarina (Carmen Electra) expresses to Kate that she feels Jimmy is not allowing his children enough freedom as they grow up. Tom, on the other hand, worries that his children are growing up too quickly and distancing themselves from him, in particular Sarah. As Sarah becomes closer to Eliot, she expresses insecurity regarding her own appearance, but feels she cannot talk to her mother or older sisters and attempts to steal makeup from a shop. The incident, combined with Kenneth and Mark ruining a tennis court, results in a disagreement between Tom and Jimmy regarding discipline and ends with Jimmy challenging Tom to lead the Bakers to win the annual Labor Day Competition. Since the Murtaughs have constantly beaten the Bakers by narrow margins, Tom agrees, despite promising Kate and the rest of the family he would not.

Tom pressures the rest of the family into training for the competition and tells them not to associate with the Murtaughs any more. However, he reluctantly relents when Eliot asks Sarah out on a date to see a movie. In his anxiety, Tom goes to the movie theatre where Sarah and Eliot have gone and tries to spy on her, only to be exposed when he runs into Jimmy, who had the same idea, and they begin arguing. Sarah storms back to the cabin in a fit of anger and refuses to participate in the Labour Day Competition the next day. The entire family is astonished that Tom would sink so low as to spy on his daughter's first date and berate him, comparing him to Big Brother.

The next day, the only members of the family going to help Tom are his younger twins. Kate stays with the rest of the family and when they find the old family flag in the rat's hole, they remember how much Tom cares about all of them and go to support him at the competition. The Bakers are able to tie with the Murtaughs, resulting a tie-break canoe race. However, Nora goes into labor partway through the race and the Bakers abandon the race to get her to a hospital. The Murtaughs try to stop and help, but Jimmy, sensing the opportunity to defeat Tom once and for all, refuses. However his eight kids, for once, defy him and get out of the boat to help the Bakers. Sarina admonishes Jimmy for putting his rivalry with Tom before his children and himself and that he should begin listening to his children. He reluctantly agrees and they abandon the race to help the Bakers.

The two families work together to take Nora to the hospital, where Tom waits in the waiting room with his kids and the Murtaugh family. Both Jimmy and Tom come to accept their children's decisions regarding their own futures - Anne tells her father she is leaving Harvard to pursue art, Charlie wants to open a garage near Lake Winnetka, and Tom finally acknowledges that Lorraine will do well in New York. When everyone goes to see Nora's baby, Nora says they are going to name the baby after Tom because he has taught them so much that there is no way to be a perfect parent, but a million ways to be a good one. Tom sheds a tear as he holds his new grandson. The next day, Bud and Nora buy the house on Lake Winnetka. That night Tom and Kate dance together on the dock and it starts to float away.

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