Release Date: May 15, 2003
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King, Angelica Huston
Directed by: Steve Carr
Written by: Geoff Rodkey
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG (language)
At its heart, Daddy Day Care is simply a good story for the whole family. It unabashedly plays off of what kids and adults will like and laugh at throughout, and it has the reliably affirming message that family values are important things. With many contemporary films exposing the negative aspects of broken homes, it’s good to see a film that uses the softer side of family life to such full effect.
The star, Eddie Murphy, isn’t at the top of his game as he was in Dr. Dolittle, but he receives a lot of support from his costars, Jeff Garlin and Steve Zahn. Murphy plays Charlie Hinton, a busy ad exec who has no time to spend with his family, including his young son Ben (Khamani Griffin). But that changes when a failed Veggie-O’s cereal campaign gets shut down, leaving Charlie and his partner Phil (Jeff Garlin) out of a job.
Charlie’s wife Kim (Regina King) starts practicing law to help cover the family expenses, and in the meantime, Charlie and Phil get a wild idea to start their own daycare facility. Due in part to their unorthodox childcare practices, their daycare becomes wildly popular, to the point where it begins to infringe on the prestigious center run by the strict Mrs. Harridan (Angelica Huston) -- which, of course, means war.
Since the movie’s idea of comedy is about Murphy showing his funniest faces, the jokes are understandably a little lackluster. Indeed, though Murphy may have struck gold with the first installments in the Doctor Dolittle and Nutty Professor series, he hasn’t been able get beyond that. His comedy has always had a somewhat familiar quality about it, ever since he played the charming Prince Akeem in Coming to America or Detective Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. Rather, Murphy movies have become a time to see what the supporting talent can do.
Garlin and Zahn prove to be more than enough. As the two other childcare helpers, they provide most of the laughs for the adult crowd, whether it’s Garlin getting chased by a swarm of bees or Zahn translating Klingon for one of the children at the daycare center. The children in the audience will be far less demanding but equally satisfied, for there is an abundance of flatulence.
Indeed, it’s safe to say that Daddy Day Care is a wise choice for the whole family. There are plenty of laughs for everyone, and you might even leave the theater feeling better that you have a family to share it with.
-- Michael J. Eiff (mjeiff@hotmail.com)