Despite the fact that it is a rather old movie, Cheaper by the Dozen is a family friendly film that evokes laughter, endearing family experiences, and an understanding of life. It does not matter whether you have a big family or you adore the relationships between children and their parents, the movie displays what it is like to have family with a touch of comedy. And what when you want additional movies like Cheaper by the Dozen to make your screen even brighter and full of similar warmth and human story? There is no need to look further. Cheaper by the Dozen is one of the movies that changes the moviegoer with family and brings to life such values through humor, warmth, and memorable characters.
Why Cheaper by the Dozen is so Special?
So before we proceed to other movies in a similar sphere, it needs to be clear why Cheaper by the Dozen was such a success. It was released in 2003 and narrates about Tom and Kate Bakers who have 12 children and have to take care of them, balance between the hardship of parenting and comic situations, which are mitigated by love. The beauty of this film is its universality; the need to have a family, the mess and the loveliness of having children, and how humor can help us with our day to day problems.
Audiences who had enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen will be sure to enjoy other movies that centered around larger than life families or movies with plots that have heartwarming moments with family or even those movies that are basically chaotic due to the family interactions. In case you want to see films similar to Cheaper by the Dozen, then here is a recommended list.
Films Such as Cheaper by the Dozen That Will Make You Laugh and Cry
1. The Pacifier (2005)
An action comedy movie, which is very much family friendly and one of the finest of this kind, The Pacifier features Vin Diesel as a Navy SEAL who must deactivate terrorists who kidnapped the parents of the family which he has been appointed to protect. Though the character of Diesel is hard and strict, the relations with the kids demonstrate his softer character. Similar to Cheaper by the Dozen, this movie represents family issues and relations that are surprising in the way they arise in a crazy scenario. It is full of humour, action and lots of warm stuff that we should not forget to remind ourselves of the significance of a family.
2. Yours, Mine and Ours ( 2005)
In case you loved the relationship between the siblings of the Baker family in Cheaper by the Dozen, then Yours, Mine, and Ours is the ideal sequel. In this film, there is a couple (Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo) that have family set ups bigger than other people due to their existence in an earlier marriage. The aspect of having to learn to merge their families into a single family takes a complicated form especially when they marry. It is also a funny and emotional journey into conceptualizing what it is like to combine two families and the obstacles that there are with it.
3. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
Talking about Cheaper by the Dozen, one cannot leave without saying a word about its sequel. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is the sequel of the adventures experienced by the entire Baker family when they do family vacation and hostile rivals among the siblings. There is more family hijinks in the second film with the first movie establishing the scene. In case you desire to see the action of the Baker family one more time, this movie is the one to see.
4. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Mrs. Doubtfire, however, does not present a family who can be considered as big in the conventional meaning of the word; however, it is still a perfect representation of love and sacrifice that parenthood implies. Robin Williams appears in a role of a divorced father resorting to the disguise as a female to work as their nanny to stay with the children longer. The movie has a poignant nature in its humor and the movie presents a rich emotional touch which is focused on the life of a family. Similar to Cheaper by the Dozen, it keeps audiences in mind the idea that, though we are surrounded by barriers and challenges in the family life, the things that bind us all together and keep everything in place is love.
5. Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles is an animated family action movie, in which the creator combines the life of superheroes with the life of a regular family, but the unusual powers of the family members also seem to have their own family problems. The movie has the same theme as Cheaper by the Dozen in terms of emphasizing the value of family bonds and collaboration to surmount the difficulties. This movie is ideal when you want to experience a touch of excitement and family entertainment since the parts that are comical and warm to the heart are sure to make the movie a thrilling experience.
6. Nanny M.P. (2005)
Nanny McPhee is a wonderful story of a father (played by Colin Firth) who is a widower and his in-hand children. Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) is also an unusual figure since she adopts unconventional means of imparting useable life lessons to the characters as she comes in town with the intention to teach the children how to behave. Just as it was the case in Cheaper by the pound, the film gives an eye-opening account of how love and discipline can go together even in the most hectic scenes. It is a joyous family movie owing to the lighthearted attitude of the movie.
7. Little Miss sunshine (2006)
If you want a more quirky family movie that still can bring the same cuddly and comedy level, then Little Miss Sunshine is an amazing option. The film revolves around a family in the dysfunctional affair who take a road trip to help their daughter fulfill her aspirations to emerge a beauty pageant winner. Though this film is less of a comedy film compared to Cheaper by the dozen, it too takes us through the nature of family relations and the need of being there to support each other during the obstacles that may come our way in life.
The Function of the Humor in Family Films
In any of the different movies such as Cheaper by the Dozen, the comedy can be considered essential in ensuring that the comic family life is entertaining and realistic. This humor, whether it be via slapstick humorous scenes, well placed dialog or heartwarming scenes of empathy, allows the viewer to empathize more with the film, which helps the viewer relate to the characters in these types of films. This mutual laughter brings unity between the audience and the family depicted in the film and the viewer is drawn to the story almost as being an experience and not a film.
According to an expert child psychologist Dr. Samantha Brooks, humor can be used in family movies as a projection of a family on a family in a humorous light mode. It is a means of emphasizing that element of ruckus and affection as a part of the family life, and it allows the audience to identify with the characters and their plight.” The Emotional Relations Building Potential of Family Films Such as Cheaper by the Dozen How
Family Films Like Cheaper by the Dozen are Emotionally Connected
Movies such as Cheaper by the Dozen and the rest on the above list fulfill the roles of a comedy-oriented escape, but also serve to be emotionally rich. We as the viewers make our way into the houses of the families and we watch them go through the joyous and the problematic moments. Such films usually emphasize on the value of team spirit, comfort and support within a family.
It is through these depictions that audiences gain the knowledge that family is not only a biological bonding of individuals, but family is about the love of ones who do everything to show unconditional support to each other. This level of emotion adds weight to the comic features of the film to create a balance of this magnitude that would impact the viewers.
In conclusion, there is the undying appeal of family movies.
Films such as Cheaper by the Dozen are still adored by viewers because of their way of capturing fun and madness as well as endearment that accompanies family life. These movies have the best combination of comedy, heartwarming scenarios, and lessons many of us can relate to about growing up or seeing how far we can push it in our family. There are have been lots of excellent films that can provide the same delight, humor and warmth and can be used in a family movie night or when you need to be reminded of how family is so important.
Next time you are in search of a film that is similar to Cheaper by the Dozen, take your pick of one of the titles above and sit back to a wonderful heartwarming film.