Character mistake: In the sequence when Tom is on the phone trying to find a babysitter, he repeatedly says he needs a babysitter for 12 children. However, Charlie, Lorraine and Nora, who does not even live at home, are much too old to need a babysitter. (00:50:45 - 00:51:25)
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
1 character mistake
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Steve Martin, Ashton Kutcher, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Alyson Stoner
Continuity mistake: After Mark is found, he runs into Kate's arms and hugs her and her sunglasses fall off her head, but then in the very next shot they're back on her head perfectly. (01:24:50)
More trivia for Cheaper by the Dozen
Question: Does it seem strange to anyone else that these kids, including teenagers, can't help take care of themselves for two weeks? My family has six kids and we can function for a week or two when Mom and Dad go out of town. In a large family, parents usually raise their children to help out a lot more and be more responsible.
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Answer: It seems that the fact the family can't take care of themselves is added to part of the humour of the film. 12 children is a lot, and think about all those rows and all that mess.
Hamster ★
It's not like they couldn't take care of themselves. As shown with the breakfast scene at the beginning, they seem to function pretty well when they all get along. Tom and Kate were just usually home more frequently than some other parents. It also didn't help that it was the first time that one of the parents was gone for an extended period and the parent that was left home (Tom) had never had to deal with all the kids on his own. Also, the only time we see complete chaos in the house is the first day that Kate has been gone. After that the kids are more behaved (at home).