Cheaper by the Dozen (2022) Review!!

Synopsis – The raucous exploits of a blended family of 12, the Bakers, as they navigate a hectic home life while simultaneously managing their family business

My Take – With the entire 20th Century Fox library at their disposal, Disney just seems determined to milk every established IP possible, irrespective of their need or not.

Joining their latest trend is this re-imagining of the semi-autobiographical 1948 novel Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, which was previously adapted twice, first in 1950 (and followed by a 1952 sequel titled Belles on their Toes), and then in 2003 starring recognizable faces like Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, and Piper Perabo (and was followed by a sequel in 2005).

While the latest version carries immediate heft considering it is directed black-ish producer Gail Lerner, and is written by the show’s creator, Kenya Barris, and writer/producer Jenifer Rice-Genzuk, who immediately make several fresh welcome updates to the formula, and thrown in every possible family scenario for good measure.

However, because of this, it also struggles to find a consistent groove, with its tone wavering from a being a children aimed flick to a rom-com to a slapstick comedy to making a stark commentary on race, without properly nailing any single one of them.

Nevertheless, despite this missteps, the film manages to bring in many laugh-out-loud moments that come from having so many children under one roof and due to the endearing commitment from its performers the film also delivers on bringing in plenty of heart to its proceedings.

The updates made to formula also work to better explain how such a large family exists, and functions, while the episodic, chapter-book quality of the storytelling serves the big ensemble well. Making this is a likable old school family romp that will get a few chuckles out of its viewers and then quickly fade from memory thereafter.

The story follows Paul (Zach Braff) and Zoey Baker (Gabrielle Union), an interracial married couple, who run an all-day breakfast joint in Los Angeles and live with a huge blended family consisting of two dogs and nine children in a small home in Echo Park, often getting the help of their ex-spouses, Kate (Erika Christensen) and Dom (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Their each day is a chaotic, yet fun adventure. Whether it is getting all the kids to school on time or running the family business, the Bakers are always busy. However, their lives sees a big change when Paul’s dream of having his famous breakfast sauce available in supermarket shelves finds a life, leading to an expansion plan of their small restaurant, forcing the whole family to move to a bigger house in the upscale suburb of Calabasas.

But as Paul busies himself traveling around, and Zoey has to stay home to take care of all the kids by herself, who are having their own troubles settling into this new environment.

Right from the off, it has all the clichéd trappings of countless other Disney family films. You have the poppy soundtrack, voice-overs and sassy kids galore. And while the messiness and madness are still abound, the design of it feels nicely updated and more organic.

Making changes to the family formula, for the better, by not only portraying a interracial marriage and biracial children, but also a blended family (some kids biologically belong to Paul and some to Zoe). Throw in Paul’s nephew, who winds up in need of a stable home, and you’ve got a way more understandable source of mayhem in comparison to the previous film’s woman gave birth to 12 children element.

In fact, for what it’s worth, this story hits you with a much more reasonable nine kids scenario, with Paul, Zoe, and cousin Seth (Luke Prael) making up the rest of the dozen.

Director Gail Lerner‘s film plays like a series of chapters strung together. This structure, of break-out bits and mini-arcs, helps balance out the large ensemble, though there’s still a handful of Baker kids who don’t quite make the cut, spotlight-wise. Still, the pacing of the film, which bounces through these smaller entanglements while also dealing with the larger story of the entire family relocating to a gated community in Calabasas, helps give everything a sweet episodic feel.

Sure, at times the film is wise in humor and sentiment and others times plays like sloppy slapstick. But beneath them it also throws in basic but potent issues like Zoey not wanting her mixed-race children playing with their toy laser guns outside, and her ex-husband, Dom’s concern about how his kids won’t learn about the Black experience from the while guy Paul.

It is all far from hard-hitting, but those expecting the usual Disney casualness might be surprised by the topicality. Opening doors to having conversations with your children about privilege, race, and inclusion.

Yes, it is never great, is very predictable and about halfway through very easy to guess where the Bakers will end up, but it is still a fun journey along the way, with the right amount of heart.

Of course it also helps that Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union make for an exceptionally charismatic on-screen couple. Union deftly handles the screenplay’s relatively difficult material, and Braff employs his trademark airy-goofball tone, delivering silly material. Timon Kyle Durrett and Erika Christensen are also good in their respective roles.

However, the film belongs to the ensemble of likable young actors, who are in fact given the film’s funniest lines. Journee Brown, Andre Robinson, Kylie Rogers, Caylee Blosenski, Aryan Simhadri, Luke Prael, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Leo Abelo Perry, Christian Cote and Sebastian Cote are all standouts. On the whole, ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ is a delightful breezy Disney family comedy that stumbles and surprises in almost equal measure.