With Levy producing, CHEAPER 2 needed a new director. It has more stunts, bigger laughs, and another family, which adds a new dimension to the Bakers’ story.”

It was important for Cheaper 2 to have a large scale, and at the same time have something new to say.

“It really ups the stakes in so many ways. “The film takes this franchise to a new level,” he says. But he still had ties to the characters he helped bring to life, and was eager to contribute to a new film about the Bakers. When the film received a “green light” from the studio, Levy was unable to take the helm due to other commitments. Under Levy’s supervision, Harper began work on a script. But all parties agreed that the new film had to be bigger in scale and expand upon themes explored in the first film. Given the film’s success, it’s not surprising that Twentieth Century Fox asked Cheaper By The Dozen director Shawn Levy and co-screenwriter Sam Harper to create a sequel. Cheaper By The Dozen was a love letter to large families. Moviegoers embraced the film’s modern comic sensibility coupled with old-fashioned sentiment rooted in family values. The film became a box-office sensation and Steve Martin’s biggest-grossing comedy to date. Kids, craziness, domestic disaster and, yes, the Bakers’ weapon of choice – the family dog unleashed upon a pair of meat-soaked trousers – made up the mix that drew audiences to 2003’s Cheaper By The Dozen. But their retreat soon turns cutthroat when they enter into a competition with the over-achieving members of a large family headed by Tom’s longtime rival, Jimmy Murtaugh. In Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate, hoping to bring their family together for a memorable summer vacation, take their twelve offspring to rustic Lake Winnetka, Wisconsin – their longtime family vacation home. Bigger scale, more laughs, ramped-up action – and lots of heart – are the hallmarks of the Bakers’ new adventure.

The entire Cheaper By The Dozen cast reunites, including Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling and Piper Perabo, and they’re joined by a new family, headed by Eugene Levy. Only this time, they’re going toe-to-toe against another clan in the ultimate inter-family battle. The Bakers are back… BIG time! America’s favorite movie family returns in Cheaper By The Dozen 2. But their retreat soon becomes cutthroat when they enter into a competition with the over-achieving members of a large family headed by Tom’s long-time rival, Jimmy Muraugh. Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt), hoping to bring their family together for a memorable summer vacation, take their 12 offspring to the rustic Lake Winnetka.

Cheaper by the dozen script