Amazon's Latest Christmas Movie Fiasco: 'Oh. What. Fun.' Falls Flat
In a season saturated with lackluster, Hallmark-style holiday fare, Amazon has thrown its hat into the ring with Oh. What. Fun., a messy, muddled comedy that fails to deliver on its promising premise.
At its core, the film's idea of giving mothers a chance to shine during Christmas is admirable and relatable. But director Michael Showalter's vision quickly devolves into chaos, courtesy of an underdeveloped script that prioritizes shallow one-liners over genuine character development. Michelle Pfeiffer, in particular, gets lost in the mess, struggling to find her footing as Claire, a mother desperate for recognition during the holiday season.
The talented cast, which also includes Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman, is woefully underutilized. Danielle Brooks' delivery driver character is a pleasant surprise, but even her bright spot can't make up for the lackluster writing. The film's attempts at humor fall flat, with jokes that are more cringe-worthy than laugh-out-loud funny.
The result is a movie that feels like it was made solely to promote Amazon's holiday offerings – a cynical move that undermines any genuine attempt at creating an entertaining film. Even the film's most interesting elements, such as its exploration of motherhood and empowerment, are squandered by a narrative that refuses to take risks or challenge itself.
All in all, Oh. What. Fun. is a disappointing, unoriginal holiday movie that fails to deliver on its promise of festive fun. If you're looking for a Christmas classic, keep looking – this one's not worth the price of admission.
In a season saturated with lackluster, Hallmark-style holiday fare, Amazon has thrown its hat into the ring with Oh. What. Fun., a messy, muddled comedy that fails to deliver on its promising premise.
At its core, the film's idea of giving mothers a chance to shine during Christmas is admirable and relatable. But director Michael Showalter's vision quickly devolves into chaos, courtesy of an underdeveloped script that prioritizes shallow one-liners over genuine character development. Michelle Pfeiffer, in particular, gets lost in the mess, struggling to find her footing as Claire, a mother desperate for recognition during the holiday season.
The talented cast, which also includes Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman, is woefully underutilized. Danielle Brooks' delivery driver character is a pleasant surprise, but even her bright spot can't make up for the lackluster writing. The film's attempts at humor fall flat, with jokes that are more cringe-worthy than laugh-out-loud funny.
The result is a movie that feels like it was made solely to promote Amazon's holiday offerings – a cynical move that undermines any genuine attempt at creating an entertaining film. Even the film's most interesting elements, such as its exploration of motherhood and empowerment, are squandered by a narrative that refuses to take risks or challenge itself.
All in all, Oh. What. Fun. is a disappointing, unoriginal holiday movie that fails to deliver on its promise of festive fun. If you're looking for a Christmas classic, keep looking – this one's not worth the price of admission.