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This movie overcame my negative expectations and won me over despite it's numerous flaws. Why? The characters, though drawn with broad strokes, are nonetheless likable, and I found myself rooting for them going into the final act. Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo are as attractive as actors my age get, and their characters are both essentially good. That was a good place to start. Quaid is a 2-Star Coast Guard Admiral just assigned to take over leadership at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. A widower of several years, he presides over his brood of 8 kids along with housekeeper Linda Hunt. Russo portrays his high school sweetheart, still living there in New London. She is also widowed. After 4 children of their own, she and her previous spouse adopted 6 more. There is a real international feeling in that house. She works at home in a messily creative studio as a designer who sells things at places like Saks Fifth Avenue. The admiral's kids are all quite regimented. They keep a tidy ship, adhere rigidly to written schedules and call their father "Admiral", which I thought sort of odd despite 22 years in the Navy myself. My children call me "Dad". But I digress. Russo is raising her children to be free-thinking spirits. There would be no movie if the designer and the admiral didn't get together. The "conflict" that must be resolved is between the military brats and the flower children. There is much to scoff at. There are several frenzied scenes of physical comedy - all ending with Quaid covered with wet stuff. With 20 family members there is scarcely a moment for any degree of character development. Rip Torn is absolutely fantastic in the right role - here he is badly miscast as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. At one point he is so pleased at the promotion of his subordinate Quaid that he lifts him off the ground in a big bear hug in one of those big Washington, D.C. rotundas. All the Admirals I know in real life are slightly more reserved in large public places. A portion of the family conflict comes when Quaid's 2-star Admiral is nominated to become the replacement for 4-Star Torn. This is about as realistic as the person who just got the job supervising orientation of new employees to the Ford Motor Company suddenly being named CEO. I know this sort of plot device happens in film all the time, but even a kindergarden understanding of arithmetic would allow you to know that a 2-Star Admiral doesn't replace a 4-Star without that intermediate 3-Star step. Still - I liked it. I liked the couple. I liked the kids. I wanted things to work out for them.Read full review
The disc does have scratches but it still works and doesn’t stop or pause. This movie makes me so happy and I love the interviews with the cast in the special features of them just being human and having fun on set.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Fun for the whole family... ...but, you better have a talk after and explain that the behavior of the children is totally unacceptable!! a LOT of paint throwing, mess making, plotting to break up the happy couple, teen parties with beer, kids acting bratty, and so on. But, the ending was sweet, so, I guess that makes up for all the nonsense. maybe. Mom and Dad debate to spank, or not, to allow mayhem, to just let things go, or to run a house with military precision. I might have to vote with Dad on this one. watching this, my dear Norman groaned a few times and said it was silly. I mumbled a, "gimme a break," or "oh, come on," or three, was a wee bit silly and unrealistic. When a family has 8, 10, or 18 kids, there must be rules, charts, time limits in the bathroom, and good old fashioned discipline. (and that, kids, is not a dirty word!) As for the "yours mine and ours" part - just enjoy it and don't compare to the original. the original with Lucile Ball and Henry Fonda is NOTHING like this remake. I love that movie, it's on my personal top 10 list. No one is like Lucy or Henry Fonda. Renee Russo, is lovely, and so is Dennis Quaid, and they did fine here, but a remake is a remake. they changed a few things. See the original. Plus, I read the book, long ago. It is a true story. This was a military family with 18 kids. and, believe me, they had charts and rules. Oh, can I say, the pet pig just annoyed the heck outa me? Gads - that would be the first thing to go, if it were me. no pig, or any pet for that matter - and I am a pet lover - is going to eat off the kitchen table, thank you. One interesting thing - they lived in New London, CT - where I lived for 6 years. I know that town. I was looking hard for familiar landmarks and scenery. the Coast Guard Academy is the only thing that looked familiar to me. the house, cool as it was, did not look like New London, prob filmed.. about anywhere, just not there. but, that's Hollywood. I do believe the real dad was in the Navy, not the CG. but, my son-in-law is a Coastie, so, I love 'em. when I lived in NL, we used to bring home Academy kids for Easter and Christmas, and feed them, great times. Cute kids, cute parents, there is a moral of the story in the end, and togetherness and family wins.Read full review
I don't remember a lot from the original movie, Lucille Ball's and Henry Fonda's movie. The basic Story line is the same 8 kid's on Dad's side and 10 on Mom's. Conservatives and Liberals in one house. The possibilities are endless and the writers came up with some good ideas and some that were a little predictable. Overall a great family movie, 7 - 10 year olds will probable love it. I would rate it 8 of 10 Stars
Clean, funny, and different enough from the original to keep one's interest, the newest version of this classic explores modern relationships with candid humor. My favorite part of this movie was the dynamics between a hippie-esque, "leave them to express their creativity" mom and a military father reminiscent of the "Sound of Music." The kids' plans are original and funny, though the final realization that they love and need each other was pat and predictable. Overall, good movie for family night or, if you're like me, for being free from the fear of adult content.
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