Daddy Day Care (2003) Movie Information:

Daddy Day Care (2003) Directed by: Steve Carr Daddy Day Care (2003) Written by: Geoff Rodkey Daddy Day Care (2003) Cast: Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King, Kevin Nealon, Jonathan Katz, Siobhan Hogan, Lacey Chabert, Laura Kightlinger

Daddy Day Care (2003) U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures Daddy Day Care (2003) U.K. Distributor: Sony Pictures

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Daddy Day Care (2003) Synopsis:

When two fathers lose their jobs in product development at a large food company, they are forced to take their sons out of the exclusive Chapman Academy and become stay at home fathers. With no job possibilities on the horizon, the two dads open their own day care facility, "Daddy Day Care," and employ some fairly unconventional methods of caring for children. As "Daddy Day Care" starts to catch on, it launches them into a highly competitive rivalry with Chapman Academy's tough-as-nails director who has driven all previous competitors out of business.

Daddy Day Care (2003) Movie Review:

After loosing their marketing jobs and been unemployed for six weeks, Charlie (Murphy) and Phil (Garlin) decide it is time to take their careers into their own hands. Releasing that there is only one real pre-school facility in the region and a rather expensive one at that, Charlie comes up with the idea for ‘Daddy Day Care’. Even though they know nothing about childcare in the slightest.

And there you have it, a movie built on one gag, Father’s looking after children. Oh the hilarity.

Eddie Murphy’s career is in the doldrums at the moment. With the noticeable exception of his vocal work for Shrek and Mulan, he hasn’t made a decent movie since Bowfinger in 1999 and that was really a Steve Martin movie. Either he has become the laziest star in Hollywood, just making movies for the paycheque or he has the lousiest agent in the business. He doesn’t even make any effort with the kids giving better performances than him. This is a man who was a very talented comedic actor. Remember the original Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places and 48 Hrs. Eddie Murphy really needs a talented young, writer director to give him a role that he can get into and relive those glory days.

The script is appalling. While the premise isn’t bad and had real opportunity for some genuine laughs, the opportunity for any type of joviality is sadly wasted by a script that hardly even manages to raise a smile. The good supporting cast are sadly wasted. Steve Zahn is a gifted comic actor, who is given nothing to work with. Anjelica Houston is nothing more than a pantomime villain and Jeff Garlin is the comedy fat guy. Yes the screenwriters even get down to that level.

Daddy Day Care is a sugar-coated movie that Hollywood seems to think is good family entertainment. From the awfully sickly sweet musical score to the overly cute kids, the whole movie is enough to make you vomit and there on the floor you would see the remnants of Eddie Murphy’s career.

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Daddy Day Care (2003) review written by: Jamie Kelwick