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In the Prime Video holiday feature “Oh. What. Fun,” Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Claire Clauster, the devoted matriarch of the Clauster family. As Christmas approaches, Claire tirelessly manages holiday preparations, yet her efforts seem invisible to her family. Her three adult children, two young grandchildren, and even her husband, played by Denis Leary, overlook her contributions. To add insult to injury, they fail to fulfill her simple Christmas wish: to be entered in her favorite talk show’s “Holiday Moms” contest. When her family leaves her behind for an event she organized, Claire decides it’s time to embark on her own festive adventure, free from familial obligations.
Alisha Wetherill/Prime Video
Claire’s frustration is understandable. Mothers often serve as the pillars of family life, especially during the holidays, yet they frequently go unacknowledged. “Oh. What. Fun.” highlights this disparity, offering a fresh narrative in the holiday movie genre, which typically centers around male figures, including Santa Claus. Traditionally, it is mothers who “see you when you’re sleeping” and “know when you’re awake,” making this film a rare tribute to the unsung heroes of the season.
This makes “Oh. What. Fun.” a unique Christmas film that celebrates moms. Michelle Pfeiffer shared with Cinema Express her connection to the role of Claire, stating, “When I read the script, I immediately connected with Claire because she represents so many moms who are the unsung heroes of their families, especially during the holidays. She’s this incredibly capable person who makes everything look effortless. But inside, she’s yearning to be seen and appreciated.”
Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Claire draws from her personal experiences as both a mother and a daughter. She recently recounted a cherished Christmas memory involving her own mother to USA Today: “When I was like 4 or 5, I remember my mother went out of her way to get me this one doll that I really wanted, and I didn’t think that I was going to get it. I remember the look on her face when she saw the look on my face when I opened that gift. It just left a huge imprint on me.”
Mothers often go unrecognized both in cinema and in real life, despite the joy and the challenges that come with motherhood. Recent films such as “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” “Hamnet,” and “Die My Love” have explored the darker aspects of maternal experiences. While “Oh. What. Fun.” offers a more lighthearted take, it acknowledges the sadness a mother might feel due to her children’s unintentional neglect.
Michelle Pfeiffer remembers her own mother on Christmas
Alisha Wetherill/Prime Video
“Oh. What. Fun.” encourages us to appreciate our mothers this holiday season and recognize their incredible contributions to family life. By helping with holiday tasks, such as meal preparations and gift wrapping, we can honor them as the heroes they truly are, ultimately enhancing the holiday spirit for everyone involved.
Moms rarely get their due on the big screen or in real life, and as much as motherhood can be a joy, it can also be filled with anguish — as a slew of recent movies have pointed out, including “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” “Hamnet,” and “Die My Love.” “Oh. What. Fun.” is on the lighter side of those cinematic experiences but still tackles the sadness a mom can feel at her children’s benign neglect.
As “Oh. What. Fun” suggests, this holiday season we should all pay more attention to our moms, the amazing people they are, and the effort they put into making the holiday special. So treat them like the heroes they are — help with the meals, wrap the gifts, and clean up after yourself — and you’ll find your holidays are even better.
