DVDs, Books, Games, and more

You're probably wondering why I spent money to go see Cheaper by the Dozen 2, right? I can tell you in two words: "Family Entertainment."

I took my five-year-old to see this film, and he loved it. I think the film should be reviewed with a five-year-old mind first.

So, what did my son like?

• The dog going after the meat under the chair (see Cheaper 1 for a hilarious scene with Ashton Kusher, whose pants have been soaked in meat).
• The mouse that steals things.
• Steve Martin on a wakeboard.
• The fireworks going off at a party because one of the kids put them next to the food warmers.
• The canoe race.

What did I like?

• The coming-of-age story about Sarah, who has her first crush. (Most critics seem to have picked this up as their favorite moment, too.)
• The birth of the baby at the end.
• The two older kids who follow their dreams at the end, not their parents' dreams.
• The two parents (Steve Martin and Eugene Levey) who compete about everything--and who are more alike than they know. (alright, it's a cliche, but I liked it.)
• The dog humping Carmen Elektra's leg (Cam liked this, too, but didn't know why).
• Carmen Elektra in a bikini (hey, I'm human! At least it wasn't totally gratuitous, since she was out driving a powerboat).

This film isn't trying to be a Best Picture. It's just trying to entertain families who have fewer and fewer options without violence and innuendoes.

Metacritic score for Cheaper by the Dozen 2: 37/100

Labels: film