Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time, yet in the new film "Oh. What. Fun.", the holiday spirit feels more like a stressful burden, especially for Michelle Pfeiffer’s character, Claire. From the moment you meet Claire, a mother stretched to her limits, it’s clear she’s not enjoying the season. Her sarcastic, punctuated name in the title perfectly captures the mix of frustration and exhaustion she experiences trying to hold her family’s Christmas together.
Claire’s grown children, played by Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessa, show little appreciation for her tireless efforts. Meanwhile, her husband, portrayed by Denis Leary, supports her emotionally but stops short of lending a hand. Claire is the sole force behind the holiday preparations—cooking meals, cleaning up messes, wrapping presents, and coordinating the whole event—all while managing to look effortlessly stylish even on her frequent trash runs. But after enduring a particularly hurtful slight from her family, Claire snaps. She escapes from her suburban routine without telling anyone, deciding to take a rare moment for herself.
At first glance, "Oh. What. Fun." shows promise with its relatable setup and strong cast, which includes brief appearances by Danielle Brooks, Joan Chen, Maude Apatow, Rose Abdoo, and Eva Longoria. Yet, the film fails to make the most of these opportunities, settling instead for a predictable and uninspired holiday story.
Streaming on Prime Video as of Wednesday, the movie opens with Claire experiencing a sort of low point—not typical hardship, but a moment of weary frustration fit for a comfortable, well-off stay-at-home mom in Texas. She gently admonishes some nearby children to be kinder to their tired mother, reminding them poignantly that "she’ll be dead someday." This brief scene sets a tone of subdued melancholy. Then, in a clumsy freeze-frame and voiceover, Claire excusing herself for a holiday outburst while lamenting that holiday films center mostly on men hints at the movie’s awkward self-awareness. Already, the film seems to make Claire apologize for her feelings.
Claire asserts, "They need to make a movie about the true heroes of the holidays: Moms." It’s a relatable rallying cry, though some may question her sweeping exclusions—after all, classics like "Home Alone" arguably highlight mothers, and movies such as "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" hardly deserve scorn. Despite its noble aim, "Oh. What. Fun." misses the mark of what such a tribute could be.
Michael Showalter directs the film, co-writing the script with Chandler Baker, who authored the original short story. The filmmakers aim for a light, breezy comedy that avoids heavy drama—no devastating illnesses or emotional breakdowns here. Instead, the result is a film that feels hesitant, almost embarrassed by its own premise, moving so swiftly through scenes that it denies viewers a chance to truly connect with the characters or enjoy the talented cast. Each family member is handed a small, straightforward flaw, but the relationships lack depth and warmth.
Felicity Jones’s character, Channing, is the oldest daughter, married to Jason Schwartzman’s Doug, who desperately wants to impress his wife’s younger sister, Taylor (Moretz). Taylor, a serial monogamist who always arrives with a new partner each holiday, is dismissive and unkind to Doug. Dominic Sessa plays the youngest sibling, recently dumped and underemployed. The grandchildren, Channing and Doug’s twins, exist in the story but barely make an impression.
Claire’s Christmas wish is simple: that her family enter her into a contest to meet her favorite daytime talk show host, Zazzy Tims, played by Eva Longoria. Her family, predictably, doesn’t catch on. Her fragile spirit finally breaks when she realizes everyone has gone to an event she meticulously planned—without her. They didn’t notice she wasn’t in any of the cars. Instead of waiting around or driving to rejoin them, she impulsively drives to Burbank to crash the Zazzy Tims show herself.
Showalter tries to inject a "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" style buddy road trip vibe as Claire shares a cramped motel room with Danielle Brooks’s character, a delivery driver who appears oddly content with her life—an almost on-the-nose choice for an Amazon production. But this subplot quickly fizzles, with the characters parting ways and the film losing momentum.
One might wonder if there is a special director’s confinement for those who underuse actors like Jason Schwartzman—who here is relegated to a thankless role as the put-upon son-in-law—or Joan Chen, playing an overly rigid, one-note neighbor obsessed with pristine silver-and-white Christmas decorations.
Interestingly, "Oh. What. Fun." unintentionally taps into a modern cinematic theme: onscreen mothers are no longer just stressed—they are unraveling emotionally and psychologically. Throughout 2025, films have depicted mothers in intense freefall, from Jennifer Lawrence’s raw performance in "Die My Love" to Rose Byrne’s haunting role in "If I Had Legs I’d Kick You," Jessie Buckley’s visceral agony in "Hamnet," and Teyana Taylor’s portrayal of postpartum apathy in "One Battle After Another."
While lighter, comedic takes on motherhood’s struggles are welcomed as relief, "Oh. What. Fun." ends up feeling as thoughtless as a hastily scribbled birthday card left on the kitchen counter. It’s a missed opportunity to create a meaningful, heartfelt homage to the holiday heroics of mothers everywhere. Surely, we can expect and deliver more thoughtful portrayals.
This PG-13 Amazon MGM Studios film runs 106 minutes and streams from December 3. The reviewer rates it two stars out of four. But what do you think? Has holiday movie fatigue dulled the impact of films like this? Or is it the challenge of truly capturing the complexity of motherhood that trips up these stories? Share your thoughts.
