Cheaper by the Dozen - **1/2

Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt are parents of 12 kids. Ooh, the possibilities. Sadly, this movie quickly turns from humorous slapstick to a Thirty Something/after school special and smothers the rather inspiring work of the younger actors. These young thespians represent themselves more like actual siblings than cutsy kids in a movie, which I found very refreshing. More of the interaction among the kids would have made this movie a terrific comedy, but Martin and Hunt make for a good combo--would love to see these two paired again in smart romance--something from Nancy Meyers, James L. Brooks or Cameron Crowe perhaps...?