Genre: Comedy/Romance/Family
Director: Raja Gosnell
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Rip Torn, Linda Hunt, Jerry O’Connell
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Released By: Columbia TriStar
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.yoursmineandoursmovie.com/

Opening Day: 16 March 2006

Synopsis:

When Frank Beardsley (DENNIS QUAID), a widower with eight children, runs into his high school sweetheart, Helen North (RENE RUSSO), it’s as if thirty years never passed! Helen, also a widow with ten kids of her own that include the six she and her husband adopted, feels the attraction as well. It’s no wonder they rush into marriage without telling their kids. True love can conquer all – right?

Unfortunately for Frank and Helen, the families don’t mesh quite as easily as the newlyweds had hoped. They probably should have seen the culture clash coming: the disciplined Beardsleys run things by the book; for the energetic and vivacious Norths, there is no book. Helen’s kids aren’t pleased about moving and sharing rooms with a bunch of uptight strangers. Frank’s children have nothing in common with the unruly Norths. Since both sets of kids aren’t happy, they devise a plan to undermine the marriage and team up to plot the breakup. East meets west as the two families find a way to work together – in order to separate!

Just when it appears that the kids have succeeded, they realize they like each other despite their differences – they don’t want their families to split up! Can they save Frank and Helen’s marriage after they so brilliantly split them up? It’s up to Frank and Helen….

Movie Review:

It all started out when Frank (Dennis Quad) for the 12th time have once again move his entire household to an entirely different environment to New London bringing along his 8 kids. Coincidentally, Helen, Frank ex girlfriend from his high school days was also a mother of 10 children. Apparently 4 are hers and the other 6 were adopted. It is a wonder how some people really do enjoy parenting, pretty much what I gathered from watching this movie.

Frank having been a widower for a couple of years decided to go on a blind date at a restaurant where he meets Helen (Rene Russo) with a guy Max whom he mistakenly thought was her husband. Frank harbored unclean thoughts had her googled in the Internet only to find thousands of other Helen White. It was by mere coincidence that they met with each other again on a Class Reunion on board a cruise ship. Frank proposes to Helen on that very night, which Helen said yes without counseling both their children and that is where all the fun begins.

Lets imagine a little, if you already have 8 brothers and sisters what happens when you add another 10 more. Definitely chaos. 18 kids with both parents shifted house again for the 13th time this time they all settled themselves in a lighthouse and a huge one of course. These 18 kids were certainly very unhappy about the whole arrangement decided to unite and thwarted their parent’s plans from staying together. These ingenious adult kids came up with well thought plans with acute execution, as each step was taken it brought them closer to their goals to having back their old lifestyle.

Apparently, the kids are the ones who know their parents weaknesses. Knowing that Helen is a person whom treats the house as a place of free expression, they went up to her studio and tided the place. After which Helen blames Frank for it, for his need for rules and regulation. This was the last straw when Helen and Frank are both gone for a trustee dinner, the kids invited a “few” friends. Which turned out to be more than 10 to have a party, bringing the house down. This was the final straw that drove Frank mad and decides to take the job as a Commodore to sail the U.S Coast Guard. Which we all know that, Frank doesn’t very much want the position as a family man he prefers to stay with his family of 18 children and his beloved lighthouse keeper Helen.

Towards the end, the kids, realized their mistake, thus using all efforts they decided to bring both their parents back. The kids even made a confession to both their parents that they were the ones behind the plans to break them up yet seeing them so loving and so fulfilled with one another decides to patch the whole thing and live as a big happy family once again. The adult kids are spectacular, going out to sea chasing after their dad on board the U.S Coast Guard, Frank amazed and surprise by what the children have done, as how usual comedies end with happy endings. Frank did make his way back with his children reunite with Helen and wed her in the very proper military way.

This is one movie, which the young and old will enjoy. Specially love watching those 18 children, all of them having a unique character and how one is able to compliment the other. Is not easy staying together as one big family but I think the kids in this family did a fantastic job. Even if you are not a person who enjoys comedies do catch this one, you will laugh your heart out.

Movie Rating:

("A fun filled entertainment for the whole family")

Review by Angela Tay