Yours, Mine & Ours (2005)
Director: Raja Gosnell
Score recorded: 2005.09.30
"Group hug!"
"Need... more... chocolate."
No score soundtrack release
Music clip 1, 0'28"
(337Kb) [DVD menu music: slapstick]
Music clip 2, 3'51" (2.65Mb)
[End credits music: themes]
THE FILM
Admiral Frank Beardsley (Dennis Quaid) and Helen North (Rene Russo), fomer childhood sweethearts, get back together and marry but now have to deal with their combined family of 18 kids, brought up with very different parenting styles. In order to go their separate ways the two sets of siblings have to work together to split up their parents. A remake of the 1968 film, this plays through like a cross between Cheaper By The Dozen and a St Trinnians film, relying on the cuteness of the children to offset their brattish behaviour. An enjoyable if predictable film, not suitable for parents looking to subdue or escape their children. Spanking should always be an option!
THE SOUNDTRACK
The military tattoo opening titles and main theme presentation pinpoint this score immediately as a regimented well-oiled Chris Beck machine. Above the innitial percussion he adds orchestra with solo trumpet foremost to introduce the Admiral and the main theme - which, now given priority, returns perceptably at key points in different styles as the scene demands: with softer orchestration (ca.0:7'50") and and sweeping (ca.1:16:10) for example. A contemporary guitar/synth underscore is par for the course in covering the children, especially in school surroundings; there is a gentle love/family theme with piano and woodwind solos; finally, a good dose of cheeky slapstick music, all staccatto-theme with scurrying strings. The main ingredients of this score sit perfectly with the film and show a comfortable mastery: not an adverturous score but by no means an empty gesture. Professional in its entertainment and support of onscreen action. A brief CD soundtrack would have been perfectly satisfactory, but the DVD menu music and end credits suite just about cover the bases, which is lucky since a fair porportion of the score on film has to battle with yelling kids and crumbling furniture.
CREDITS
Music supervisor: Spring Aspers
Music by Christophe Beck
Music editors: Todd Bozun, Tanya Noel Hill
Music coordinators: Bronwen Boyan, Rodarick Harden
Conducted by Mike Nowak
Orchestrations by Kevin Kleisch, Adam Blau
Orchestra contracted by Sandy de Crescent
Music preparation: Mark Graham, JoAnn Kane Music Services
Recorded and mixed by Casey Stone
RecordistL Vincent Cirilli
ACTING CREDITS (at least some confirmed as performers)
Reunion singer - Ricky Fanté
Backup singers - Dianne Woods Carter, Donna Taylor
Party Band - Hawk Nelson
Vocals - Jason Dunn
Drums - Aaron Tosti
Bass - Daniel Biro
Guitar - Jonathan Steingard
SONGS (etc.)