• Release year: 2025
• Director: Michael Showalter.
• Producers: Kate Churchill, Jordana Mollick, Jane Rosenthal, Michael Showalter, and Berry Welsh.
• Screenplay by: Chandler Baker and Michael Showalter.
• Cinematography by: Jim Frohna.
• Music by: Siddhartha Khosla.

Shotgun Commentary: a gorgeous ode to the unsung heroes of Christmas, which, let’s be honest, are usually mothers.

Review

Oh. What. Fun. shows a new perspective on Christmas. Have you ever wondered why everyone blames Mrs McCallister for forgetting her kid at home, but no one ever bothers to point out that she’s taking care of TWELVE kids—five of whom she gave birth to—while Mr McCallister does NOTHING? If you have, this is definitely the Christmas movie for you.

Context

As the product of a Spanish family, yours truly has the blessing—or curse, depending on the year—of being able to celebrate Christmas for just a little longer. Until the 6th of January, to be specific. As such, one gets a little more time to watch terrible Christmas movies that will likely leave you indifferent or disappointed unless you happen to have a sense of nostalgia over it. Still, this season is nothing if not hopeful, so you probably gave the genre a chance one more year; I know I did with this film.

In the spirit of having full disclosure, if Michelle Pfeiffer hadn’t been on the cover in the catalogue, this feature would have probably joined the long list of Christmas films that sort of call to me but also will remain unwatched in a dusty list that will never be checked. However, she is on the cover of the film. In fact, she IS the cover of the film, so the decision was made for me.

Pfeiffer plays Claire, a Texan mother of three with one wish, and one wish only, for Christmas: to get nominated by her kids to appear in her favourite TV show. Surprising no one, her kids have a ton of worries and priorities; Claire and her wish are not among them. As a result, Claire is fighting a losing battle. She makes sacrifices to keep everyone happy as she watches no one giving a second of their time to her. The effort parents put into taking care of their children, even at an older age, is blatantly obvious.

A few lessons

On the one hand, the story is an ode to mothers all over the world. To all the women that make the world go round without retirement, bonuses, vacation, or a salary. Sure, you might be thinking, “Hey, men do that too.” Well, to that I say, look around and get a grip, mate. The older the generation, the more women you will find taking care of absolutely everything in the house without so much as a thank you.

On the other hand, this movie is also a candid reminder that kids require A LOT of work. As in, say goodbye to your life as you know it; you’ve created a human, and you take care of it until you die. It is not a purse or an accessory. Nor is it the kind of thing you have because all your friends are having it or because it would look cute on your Insta feed. It is a full-time responsibility you’ll carry for the rest of your life, and if you are not ready for that, DO NOT HAVE KIDS.

After this season-appropriate rant—in case you missed a good rant at your Christmas family reunion—it is time for some final thoughts. All in all, Oh. What. Fun. is the kind of Christmas movie that will make you laugh with stupid, seasonal jokes while also delivering the family drama all movies of these holidays should have. With a wonderful cast who delivers, this film is great for audiences who love Christmas and for those who only celebrate it mildly.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Never expect much from other people, especially if they happen to be your kids.
• Sometimes leaving everyone behind for a few days is exactly what you need.
• Don’t meddle with your political family’s affairs.

What’s your take? Have you watched Oh. What. Fun? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀