A Review of 'Oh. What. Fun.'
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but for Claire, played by the talented Michelle Pfeiffer, it's a period of constant, thankless labor. As a single mom, she juggles cooking, cleaning, wrapping, and planning, all while trying to keep her family happy and cozy. Despite her efforts, her grown children, played by Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessa, fail to appreciate her dedication. Her husband, Denis Leary, offers minimal support, leaving her to manage everything on her own.
The movie 'Oh. What. Fun.' takes a light-hearted approach to this setup, but it falls short of its potential. The director, Michael Showalter, co-wrote the script with Chandler Baker, aiming for a breezy and comedic tone. However, the result is a film that seems embarrassed to commit to its own premise, rushing through the story and failing to showcase the cast's full potential.
The plot revolves around Claire's desire to meet her favorite daytime talk show host, Zazzy Tims, played by Eva Longoria. She plans a contest for her family to submit her name, but her wish is ignored. The breaking point comes when she realizes her family has attended an event she organized without her. In a moment of rebellion, she decides to crash the Zazzy Tims show in Burbank, driving there on her own.
Showalter attempts to create a buddy trip with Channing (Jones) and a delivery driver, played by Danielle Brooks, but the idea is only partially realized. The film lacks the chemistry and depth of relationships that make a family story memorable. Each character is assigned a tidy problem or flaw, and the lack of lived-in familial dynamics is noticeable.
Despite the movie's shortcomings, it taps into a broader cinematic trend. This year, on-screen mothers are portrayed as being on the edge, with characters like Jennifer Lawrence's in 'Die My Love,' Rose Byrne's in 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You,' Jessie Buckley's in 'Hamnet,' and Teyana Taylor's in 'One Battle After Another' all experiencing their own forms of turmoil. These films explore the complexities of motherhood and the challenges women face.
'Oh. What. Fun.' is an Amazon MGM Studios release, streaming on Prime Video from December 3, and is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association. With a running time of 106 minutes, it receives two stars out of four. While lighter versions of this theme are appreciated, the movie falls short of its potential, leaving viewers wanting more thoughtful and nuanced portrayals of motherhood.
