Released on December 21, 2005, the high-energy sequel brought the Baker family back to the big screen for a summer vacation that quickly spiraled into an all-out inter-family war.
Two decades later, the film stands as a quintessential early-2000s time capsule, remembered for its star-studded young cast and the legendary comedic rivalry between Steve Martin and Eugene Levy.
The Ultimate Backyard Brawl: Baker vs. Murtaugh
While the first film focused on the Bakers moving to the city, the sequel took the chaos to Lake Winnetka. The plot followed Tom Baker (Steve Martin) as he attempted to gather his maturing brood for one last family vacation before the kids officially grew up and moved away.
The stakes were raised when they ran into Tom’s old rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy). Unlike the messy, “loose” style of the Bakers, the Murtaughs were a disciplined, wealthy, and seemingly perfect clan of eight. The film turned into a hilarious series of competitive challenges, from canoe races to Labor Day games, proving that even a vacation can be a contact sport when the Bakers are involved.
A Cast of Rising Superstars
Looking back 20 years later, the Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast is a fascinating look at mid-2000s Hollywood royalty. Nearly the entire original Baker family returned, including:
Hilary Duff (Lorraine): Still a massive teen icon, her character provided the fashion-forward comedic relief.
Tom Welling (Charlie): Continuing his heartthrob status while starring in Smallville.
Alyson Stoner (Sarah): Who famously went through her first “crush” storyline in the film.
The sequel also introduced a new generation of talent in the Murtaugh family, most notably a pre-Twilight Taylor Lautner as Elliot Murtaugh and a young Robbie Amell as Daniel Murtaugh. Seeing Lautner and Stoner as awkward pre-teen love interests remains one of the most nostalgic highlights for fans.
Why It Still Matters Today
Twenty years later, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 has transitioned into a “comfort movie” for a generation. It captured the bittersweet reality of parents trying to hold onto their children as they grow up—a theme that feels even more relevant today as the original audience now has families of their own.
Whether it’s the “meat-soak” prank from the first film or the firework-filled “Clam Bake” disaster in the second, the Baker family legacy is one of messy, loud, and unconditional love.