Oh. What. Fun. Film Review: Christmas Havoc

Michelle Pfeiffer excels in Oh. What. Fun., an enjoyable yet honest Christmas tale of what really happens when a mom decides to take control of her life.

She hosts her kids and their families every year along with her husband Nick (Denis Leary, of Ice Age), who barely helps as he’s too busy sleeping in, and attempts to make it the best few days of everyone’s year. Claire’s gift to everyone this Christmas is to go and see a dance show as a family. The only problem is, when they all sit down for the performance, they realise they’ve left their mom at home.

Whilst everyone drives back to the house immediately after the realisation kicks in, it’s already too late. Claire’s packed a bag and is long gone. Will she come back in time for Christmas Day? Or will she relish in spending time away from her demanding, thankless family, enjoying her own company for the first time? 

Pfeiffer is as incredible as ever in Oh. What. Fun., delivering an earnest performance as Claire. She lets her hair down and goes for it, like a true mother would under the circumstances her character goes through. A strong lead performance to keep the film grounded is what Oh. What. Fun. needs with all the disorder going on in the family. All of the supporting performances are great, though, making it one of the best ensembles of the year.

Claire and Nick’s three kids couldn’t be any more different. But the one thing that makes them the same is their ability to put all the pressure possible on their mom to do everything, even if they’re all adults now. There’s the youngest, Sammy (Dominic Sessa, of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t), who is already having a terrible Christmas after being recently dumped by his girlfriend (Maude Apatow, of Euphoria). Not all is lost, though, as returning home reignites for his high school crush and neighbour Lizzie (Havana Rose Liu, of Bottoms). Sessa is two for two on his Christmas films after warming everyone’s hearts as a newcomer in The Holdovers.

Channing (Felicity Jones, of The Brutalist) arrives with her husband Doug (Jason Schwartzman, of Queer), who finds it awkward still to blend into the Clauster family, and their two kids, who suggest to Claire that this may be their last Christmas at home as they want to make their own traditions now they have young kids. Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz, of Shadow in the Cloud) brings along a new girlfriend Donna (Devery Jacobs, of Backspot) and causes chaos as she welcomes a new girl into the family at least once a year. She claims it’s different this time, though.

With Showalter’s previous film The Idea of You and now Oh. What. Fun., it’s clear the director is capable of creating a movie that is entertaining and funny but that can also be heartfelt. You feel for Claire, even if we’ve only seen a glimpse of her life. Why, after all of this time of hosting Christmas, is she still not appreciated? It’s not a revolutionary concept, but it is one that is guaranteed to get you wanting to hug your family. Or maybe it reminds you that you’re the one who does it all and things need to change.

If Bad Moms Christmas didn’t sell you the premise that moms deserve more love, then Oh. What. Fun. certainly will. It’s a reminder to tell your family you love them, but more so to give a helping hand and not expect a fairytale Christmas like they show in the movies. The holidays can still be perfect without extravagant gifts or countless 10ft blow-up Santas in the front yard.

Oh. What. Fun. is now available to stream globally on Prime Video.