OH. WHAT. FUN. on Prime Video is a new Christmas Movie with the story of the mom at its center. The movie stars Michelle Pfeiffer, and I am always happy to see her on my screen. Also, we get Chloë Grace Moretz as the love-addicted lesbian daughter. It’s a fun, relevant, and poignant movie for the Holidays that some will obviously relate to more than others. Read our full Oh. What. Fun. movie review here!
OH. WHAT. FUN. is a new Prime Video Christmas Movie, and yes, it is worth watching. Maybe with your mom, if she’s the one who is doing all the work during the Holidays. Both to give her a break, and maybe to start talking about how everyone else can help more.
I am a sucker for Christmas movies (and not just those with a queer plot, though I will definitely watch them), so I can recognize the opening scene of Oh. What. Fun. calling out how they’re usually about the dad in the family. Not the mom. Why? Because she’s busy actually making Christmas happen for everyone.
Continue reading our review of the new Oh. What. Fun. Christmas movie below. Find it on Prime Video now.
Remember to thank those doing the work
It’s Christmas once again, and Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is what makes this a magical season for her family. She rarely sits down for more than a few seconds (or minutes, if she’s really trying to relax) at a time. She is the proverbial glue that holds her family together every holiday season. Well, all year, I suspect.
Whether focusing on sweet treats or the perfect Christmas dinner, and perfectly wrapped gifts, she does it happily to make this yet another magical season. However, she has her limits, so when everyone leaves without her for a special outing – one she, of course, planned for her family – she takes off. Runs away from home, essentially.
She’s had more than enough of feeling under-appreciated, so she goes on an impromptu adventure of her own. A classic Christmas movie element, which usually involves a dad who didn’t manage to buy the one present he was supposed to. And which his wife no doubt reminded him of lots of times.
Of course, in those movies, he returns home just in time to enjoy a magical Christmas that Mom yet again created all on her own. Well, not in Oh. What. Fun. because mom left, and now the family has to handle Christmas on their own.
For the record, the Mom isn’t perfect in Oh. What. Fun. For starters, she isn’t good at listening to the needs of others either. We hear her thoughts as Michelle Pfeiffer essentially narrates. Even right over her own oldest daughter, trying to talk to her. An important detail to show it isn’t quite as simple or one-sided as you’d think.
A wonderful all-star cast
What Oh. What. Fun. really excels at is having pulled together a brilliant cast. We have Michelle Pfeiffer in the lead as Mom, Claire, and her husband is portrayed by Denis Leary. He is the typical husband, who didn’t quite get that one present he was responsible for, ready.
As their kids, we have the oldest daughter, a successful author, portrayed by Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything). As the lovable but also quite selfish and love-addicted lesbian daughter, who brings home a new girlfriend every Holiday Season, we have Chloë Grace Moretz (The Miseducation of Cameron Post).
Finally, as their son, who is treated like a “baby boy” by his Mom and enjoys it, we get Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers). This is a good example of how Mom isn’t perfect in her actions either.
In key supporting roles, we get to enjoy moments with Jason Schwartzman (Queer), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms), and Maude Apatow with Eva Longoria and Joan Chen as two glorious power women.
Watch Oh. What. Fun. on Prime Video now
Admittedly, I do think Oh. What. Fun. would have had a few different elements if the director had been a woman. The director of Oh. What. Fun is Michael Showalter (Hello, My Name Is Doris), and the story comes from Chandler Baker, who is a woman and plays one of the “Holiday Moms”. They wrote the script for the movie together, based on her story idea.
I never mind watching a female-led movie made by men, because I know they can get it right. However, it usually helps if a woman is at least in the writing room, so I’m happy that was the case for this one.
Still, you do have to accept that a Christmas movie (of any kind) is its own beast. As such, you must be ready for this kind of “Christmas movie” premise, or you’ll be annoyed and/or disappointed. And, as a Christmas movie, I do think Oh. What. Fun. works.
It’s a comedy (or a dramedy, if you will), and with a holiday plot, it has a fairly formulaic approach to storytelling. And yet, I did love the final few twists. They worked for me and made it an overall better viewing experience. So did the cast, which was what pulled me in to begin with.
OH. WHAT. FUN. is out globally on Prime Video on December 3, 2025.
Director: Michael Showalter
Story: Chandler Baker
Script: Chandler Baker & Michael Showalter
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, with Jason Schwartzman, with Eva Longoria and Joan Chen
Official plot:
Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. From perfectly frosted cookies to meticulously wrapped gifts, no one decks the halls quite like Claire. But this year, after planning a special outing for her family, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script.
Photos © Amazon Content Services LLC
