Oh. What. Fun.

Oh. What. Fun. is an instant Holiday classic. With an all star cast led by Michelle Pfeiffer and Denis Leary this is a funny and poignant look at moms and how they literally do it all. It is a film that every husband, father, and child should watch and take note of. It is also a toast to all the moms out there, and a rally cry they can watch and revel in.

Synopsis: Claire Clauster is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. 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 underappreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. | Rated PG-13 for some drug use, sexual material and strong language.

Premieres Globally on Prime Video on December 3, 2025

If there is any one group on this planet taken for granted it is the wife and mother. The lengths they will go to make sure everyone around them is cared for and happy is monumental. It is so expected that when a movie like this one shines a light directly on that sacrifice it is like a wake up call. Granted not every family is like this one, but if we look close at ourselves I bet we can see some similarities.

The first thought when watching this is that these kids – and husband – need a strong kick in the … you get the idea. We watch Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) as she prepares the home for the holidays. She cooks, shops, wraps, decorates, cleans, dotes, cooks some more and cleans some more; with very little help or gratitude. Like most husbands Nick (Denis Leary) probably thinks he is helping out and “don’t worry it will get done” usually means the wife will do it.

Her grown kids show up for Christmas bringing their own wants and baggage with little concern for what mom needs. There are a lot of stereotypes here and Hollywood likes to draw from the same well. We have the coddled youngest son (Dominic Sessa), the oldest daughter (Felicity Jones) looking for her own validation as a mother, and the single middle child (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is a leaf in the wind. Though we have seen this dynamic many times it is still full of hilarity, drama, and sibling rivalry. It helps too that all three of these actors are very good at what they do and can bring depth to even the most common of characters.

As Claire is the glue to the story Michelle Pfeiffer is the glue to this cast. As we see Claire struggle with feeling appreciated or at the least being asked, “what can I do” it sparks something inside that should make every husband and child feel some guilt. Do we really know what they want as a gift? If they didn’t buy their own presents would they get anything at all? Or would they get a new set of cookware or a last minute end cap purchase. Would the tree be decorated, the cookies baked, or the gifts wrapped? I think we know the answer.

There is one gift that Claire wants more than any other and the last act of the movie is about her getting that. It is also the part of the film that carries the most weight verbally. We have watched Claire give and give, and now she has had enough. Wives and mothers will give a hearty amen to some of these final conversations while the rest of the family – as they should – squirm in their seats.

Like most Holiday adventures there are plot holes and moments we have to overlook and not ask too many questions about. Claire does things near the end that make very little sense logistically and I was shaking my head so much I almost missed the point. You will know it when you see it. But do not let it distract you if possible.

Though the film focuses on some emotional concepts there is still a lot of Christmas joy and cheer in this one. I can see it becoming one of those films we watch each year as a reminder to not take family for granted or as a background film while mom wraps all gifts she bought and we eat cookies and nap.

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Matt Mungle

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