Feeling the Holiday Hustle? The new movie 'Oh. What. Fun.' starring Michelle Pfeiffer, attempts to capture the chaos and comedy of a Christmas under pressure. But does it succeed? Let's dive in.
In 'Oh. What. Fun.', Pfeiffer plays Claire, a mom teetering on the edge during the holiday season. The film highlights the thankless labor she undertakes – cooking, cleaning, and gift-wrapping – all while trying to create a picture-perfect Christmas. Her grown children (played by Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessa) seem oblivious to her efforts, and her husband (Denis Leary) offers support without much practical help. Claire finds herself running the show, and even her glamorous garbage runs don't go unnoticed.
But here's where it gets controversial... After a particularly disheartening oversight from her family, Claire decides she's had enough. She abandons her suburban life, deciding to do something for herself for a change.
Despite its promising premise and a talented cast including Danielle Brooks, Joan Chen, and Eva Longoria, the film falls short. Instead of exploring its potential, 'Oh. What. Fun.' opts for a generic approach. The movie, available on Prime Video, begins with a scene where Claire tells children to be kinder to their exhausted mother.
Claire's frustrations are clear. She wishes for a movie that truly celebrates the heroes of the holidays: Moms. The film seems to stumble in its execution.
Director Michael Showalter, who co-wrote the script with Chandler Baker, aims for a light and breezy tone. However, the film seems hesitant to fully embrace its premise, rushing through scenes and failing to let the audience connect with the characters. Each character is assigned a single flaw, and the family lacks genuine chemistry.
Channing, the eldest daughter, is married to Doug, who tries to impress her younger sister, Taylor. Taylor, a serial monogamist, is often unkind to him. The youngest, Sessa, is underemployed and recently single. There are also two grandchildren who are essentially background characters.
Claire's Christmas wish is for her family to enter her in a contest to meet her favorite talk show host, Zazzy Tims (played by Longoria). When her family misses the hint and doesn't notice her absence from an event she planned, Claire decides to drive to Burbank and crash the Zazzy Tims show.
Showalter attempts to turn this road trip into a 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' style journey. However, the film doesn't fully commit, and the characters soon go their separate ways.
And this is the part most people miss... The film also seems to waste the talents of actors like Jason Schwartzman and Joan Chen.
'Oh. What. Fun.' inadvertently taps into a cinematic trend. This year, on-screen mothers are not just on the edge; they're in freefall.
While lighter versions are welcome, 'Oh. What. Fun.' feels as thoughtless as a hastily written birthday card. It seems the film doesn't quite hit the mark.
What do you think? Did 'Oh. What. Fun.' capture the spirit of the holiday season, or did it miss the mark? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
