Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film) find him. During the search, Tom indulges a hunch from Nora that Mark is trying to run back to the Bakers' old home, and eventually finds Mark on an Amtrak train departing from Evanston to Midland. Reuniting with the rest of their family, the Bakers begin to address their issues with each other. Tom ultimately steps down from his position at his alma mater with Shake. The film ends when Kate narrates that family becomes stronger and closer together. The film's director Shawn Levy makes a cameo as a reporter. A sequel, "Cheaper by the Dozen 2", was released in
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 was also kind to Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt and Eugene Levy, deeming the veteran actors did the best with what was given to them. Marrit Ingman of the "Austin Chronicle" conceded that it had a good message, and agreed that Hunt was "marvelous and down-to-earth" but ultimately felt that "the rest of the movie is as funny as mildew", found that "the product placement is particularly egregious" and thought that Hilary Duff looked "as tanned and raw as buffalo jerky". Andrea Gronvall was also horrified by Duff's appearance while writing for the "Chicago Reader", calling her "haggard" and "flat-out scary",