Daddy Day Care (2003)

This is just a funny and fun movie. And as one user wrote, the chemistry between all the actors and kid actors really makes the movie. We could use more movies like this. Nothing inappropriate either. It is one of those movies that you come away smiling. It's a feel good movie. I imagine if more people would support these kinds of movies maybe Hollywood would make more. I do wonder if there are more people than we think who secretly enjoy a good wholesome movie. And love Steve Zahn. Eddie Murphy is so good when he keeps it clean. He seems genuinely nice and, of course, love his voice for animated characters.Everyone in the cast really makes this movie charming.

Two men get laid off in product development at a large food company and are forced to become stay-at-home fathers. They create a new day care facility called "Daddy Day Care". As "Daddy Day Care" starts to catch on, it launches them into a rivalry with the Chapman Academy tough-as-nails director, Ms. Harridan.....Whatever you think of Eddie Murphy and his later films (the ones without swearing), one cannot deny that they have a slight sincerity about them.Here is another example, if it is an average example. Murphy plays the straight guy with all the best lines and the best house and best kids. The Big guy plays the slapstick Prat- falling guy with a fear of body fluids.And then there's Steve Zahn. An actor who is quite prolific, so at the time it was quite odd him being in this, but he is and he is the useless part of the film. There really wasn't any reason for him to be in this.The film plays out how it should, there's a scene where the Day Care gets threatened with closure, the rival group sabotage something, and Murphy gives it all up to get his old job back, but then something happens that makes him realise the error of his ways.It's not funny, I didn't laugh once, but its nice and inoffensive, and my daughter lapped it up.

Daddy Day Care is not absolutely brilliant, but what I liked about it was that it didn't try to be. Admittedly the story is silly and predictable, the script has its weak spots, it can get sickly sweet in places and there are some repetitive sight gags. However, it is nicely filmed, has a good soundtrack, does have some funny moments and there are some decent performances from Eddie Murphy(who sensibly underplays), Jeff Carlin and Anjelica Huston. However it is the kids who steal the show, they are very cute and energetic. Overall, Daddy Day Care isn't that bad, it is lacking in originality but has a good cast and has enough energy to make it watchable. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Caught this today on DVD with a buddy's grand-kids, and was pleasantly surprised. I have given it 9 out of 10, not for pure artistic merit, but as a funny 'family-film'. Certainly, the current rating here at IMDb is pessimistic. There are only 2 or 3 decent films of this sort produced annually in Hollywood, the rest being utter trash.Eddie Murphy plays a more subdued role than we might expect as a high-powered 'player' in the ad game, with little time for his family. A sudden change finds him desperate for work or an enterprise, in a plot ploy reminiscent of Michael Keaton's "Mr. Mom". The unfolding action finds Eddie scrambling to operate a day care facility with frenetic partners Jeff Garlin and, later, Steve Zahn. Murphy allows that duo to handle the slapstick end of things. He remains the thinker and the one who calms the waves of lunacy, allowing the plot to move forward to the next challenge facing our heroes.The satirical side of this story is shown by examining the competing (snotty) daycare center of the always-delightful Angelica Huston, reprising her 'vampy villainess' role of "Ever After". She runs a sophisticated academy for toddlers that Fraser and Niles Crane might envy (but it really needs to be taken down a peg or two).Refreshing, too, is the portrayal of the daycare inspector unleashed on Eddie by Huston. Instead of the typical clichéd grump who threatens and hollers, we get a tender, supportive fella who really wants the boys to succeed (we find out why at the end - watch the puppet show carefully!).Garlin is the closest thing I've seen to a replacement for our departed and dear John Candy, a slightly over-sized actor who can combine tenderness with slapstick! Zahn was an unusual sidekick fit as 'Giordino' to McConaughey's 'Dirk Pitt' in "Sahara", and, here as a hapless Trekkie, impresses with his comedic timing.Other notables pop up in supporting roles, and the kids are terrific. Enjoy! Final word to other actors of (former) glory: check your ego at the door, share the limelight with a great supporting cast and find a real script with likable or compelling characters. in no particular order.