'Oh. What. Fun.' Critique: Michelle Pfeiffer Brings Joy to Spirits and Comedy

Michael Showalters festive comedy Oh. What. Fun. opens with a provocative question: why arent more Christmas movies centered on moms? While moms appear in countless holiday films, they rarely take the lead. Films like A Bad Moms Christmas are exceptions, but they seldom make it onto classic holiday movie lists. One notable outlier is A Long Kiss Goodnight, where Geena Davis challenged holiday norms with gusto.

Showalters film contains no murders, unlike A Long Kiss Goodnight, but it excels in exploring family dynamics with empathy and humor. The movies focus is a mothers enduring love tested by her self-centered children, raising the question: how long can one love lovable but frustrating family members before it becomes unbearable?

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Claire, a matriarch of a large, bustling family. Her children include Channing (Felicity Jones), a busy mother and author with a dull husband, Doug (Jason Schwartzman); Taylor (Chlo Grace Moretz), who frequently introduces new girlfriends, including DJ Sweatpants (Devery Jacobs); and Sammy (Dominic Sessa), an unemployed romantic dreamer. Claires husband Nick (Denis Leary) and several grandchildren complete the crowded household, creating a chaotic holiday atmosphere.

Despite the constant stress, Claire remains the familys anchor, long unappreciated for her sacrifices. All she wished for this Christmas was for her children to enter her in a moms contest, a simple gesture of love, but they failed to follow through. When her family leaves for a Christmas event she organized without her, Claire reaches her breaking point and drives away, seeking space and solitude. The family soon realizes their mistake, and Christmas is overshadowed by guilt and the realization that they cannot celebrate without her presence.

Showalter, adapting Chandler Bakers story, skillfully balances consequences with empathy. Claires family is not cruelthey are distracted and self-involved, failing to acknowledge her worth as a person beyond being a mom. Their guilt is genuine, making Claires anger both justified and relatable. The comedy navigates the line between frustration and affection, assuring viewers that resolution is likely after a series of misadventures.

The ensemble cast is impressive, with each character distinct and engaging. Even minor roles, like a mall cop overreacting to Claires emotional breakdown and a motel clerk perpetually hoping for a celebrity visit, add depth and humor. Every performer contributes, yet Michelle Pfeiffer stands out, carrying the films emotional weight with grace, charm, and subtle humor. Her portrayal commands respect and elevates the storys heartfelt moments.

While Oh. What. Fun. may not break new narrative groundit explores familiar themes of women managing unacknowledged labor and reaching their limitsit is a warmly crafted addition to holiday cinema. The film strikes a balance between heartfelt drama and seasonal cheer, delivering a Christmas experience that is touching, funny, and perfectly in tune with Pfeiffers enduring screen presence.

Author: Sophia Brooks