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Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Claire Clauster in Prime Video’s festive film “Oh. What. Fun.” As the head of the Clauster family, Claire is the unsung hero who manages every detail of the holiday season. Yet, her efforts go unnoticed by her husband, played by Denis Leary, their three adult children, and two young grandchildren. Her disappointment peaks when her family forgets to enter her into her favorite talk show’s “Holiday Moms” contest, the one thing she truly wanted for Christmas. When they inadvertently leave her behind for an event she organized, Claire decides she’s had enough and embarks on her own Christmas adventure, leaving her family to fend for themselves.
Alisha Wetherill/Prime Video
Claire’s frustration is understandable. Mothers often serve as the backbone of family celebrations, especially during the holidays. However, they seldom receive the recognition they deserve. Holiday films typically highlight male figures, including Santa Claus, leaving mothers in the background. But in reality, it’s often moms who are the vigilant ones, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
“Oh. What. Fun.” stands out as a unique holiday movie that honors mothers. Pfeiffer shared with Cinema Express that she felt an immediate connection to Claire. “She represents so many moms who are the unsung heroes of their families, especially during the holidays. Claire is incredibly capable, making everything appear effortless, yet she longs to be recognized and appreciated,” Pfeiffer explained.
Pfeiffer draws from personal experience for her portrayal of Claire, inspired by her own mother and her journey through motherhood. She shared a cherished memory with USA Today, recalling a Christmas from her childhood. “When I was about 4 or 5, my mother went out of her way to get me a doll I desperately wanted, which I didn’t expect to receive. I vividly remember her face lighting up as she watched my delight when I unwrapped that gift,” she reminisced.
While mothers often go unacknowledged in both films and reality, and despite the joys of motherhood, it can also bring heartache. Recent films like “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” “Hamnet,” and “Die My Love” explore these themes. “Oh. What. Fun.” offers a lighter take but still poignantly addresses the sadness a mother can feel when her family fails to appreciate her efforts.
Michelle Pfeiffer remembers her own mother on Christmas
Alisha Wetherill/Prime Video
Understanding her own mother’s love for her and being a mom herself have all gone into Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance — which hopefully is one of the few roles that doesn’t make her cringe — in “Oh. What. Fun,” with Pfeiffer recently recalling her favorite memory of her own mom from a past Christmas. “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,” Pfeiffer reminisced to USA Today. “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.”
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.
