Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show in 'Oh. What. Fun.' despite its clichéd Christmas narrative

As a millennial who grew up loving the blockbusters of the late 1990s and 2000s, I was delighted to learn about the star-studded cast of "Oh. What. Fun."

From Michelle Pfeiffer in the lead of the new Amazon Prime Christmas movie to Eva Longoria, Chloë Grace Moretz and Denis Leary making appearances, this nostalgic line-up had me genuinely excited.

But not even this illustrious talent - which also includes a few newer faces - could save the film from mediocrity.

Sure, it offers some humorous and charming moments, and it’s packed with relatable themes, but the production ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. Pfeiffer (who is truly ageing like fine wine) is its biggest redeeming quality because, overall, we are exhausted by the predictable Christmas-movie formula and the reliance on a plot that lacks real substance.

"Oh. What. Fun." centres around Claire Clauster (Pfeiffer), who lives with her husband Nick (Leary) in Houston, Texas. A dedicated housewife, Claire runs a tight ship, managing the household and caring for Nick while he operates his construction business.

It’s the festive season - her favourite time of year - and the house is already drenched in Christmas décor as she prepares for her children and grandchildren to visit for the holidays.

Claire has been working tirelessly for months to ensure everyone feels the magic: buying and wrapping gifts, prepping holiday meals and making sure the house glows with just the right amount of seasonal sparkle.

And while Claire is a selfless mother and wife who continually sacrifices herself for her family’s happiness, all she really wants for Christmas is to win the Holiday Mom of the Year contest on the "Zazzy Tims Show", her favourite television programme.

The only problem? Zazzy (Longoria) requires husbands or children to nominate the moms, and Claire’s kids are far too self-absorbed to bother.

She sends them text reminders about the application, but they are all too wrapped up in their own lives to offer Claire any appreciation - especially during the holidays, when she is quite literally slaving away to make them happy.

Nick, meanwhile, spends all of his free time trying to assemble a dollhouse for the grandchildren. Their eldest child, Channing (Felicity Jones), an aspiring author, is trying to juggle her career with the pressures of being a mom and wife.

Then there’s Sammy (Dominic Sessa), their adult son arriving home heartbroken after being dumped by his girlfriend. Claire’s other children accuse her of spoiling him: he’s unemployed, lacks direction, and seems comfortable letting life happen to him. The couple’s third child is the eccentric hairstylist Taylor (Moretz), a chaotic lovergirl visiting with yet another new partner.

When the entire Clauster clan descends on Houston for the holidays, they promptly collapse into comfort mode and let Claire wait on them - serving meals, pouring drinks and smoothing every wrinkle in the holiday experience.

But she becomes emotional when she realises her family missed the contest application deadline. Matters escalate even further when they accidentally leave her at home and head off to a Christmas show she planned for them.

Devastated, Claire finally reaches her breaking point. She packs a bag, loads the car, and drives off. By the time Nick and the kids realise they left her behind and rush home to fetch her, Claire is already on the highway - blasting Christmas music, snacking on seasonal treats and driving to Burbank, California, on Christmas Day to sneak into the Zazzy Tims live recording.

Unaware of where she’s gone, Claire’s family are suddenly overwhelmed with guilt for taking her for granted. Tensions erupt without her there to keep the peace, leading to near fistfights and even a break-up.

And as you’ve likely gathered, we’ve all watched variations of this plot many, many times before.

"Oh. What. Fun." attempts to be a love letter to moms who are overstretched and undervalued during the holidays, but many of the scenes feel cringey, exaggerated and painfully stereotypical.

Despite everything working against her, Pfeiffer remains the queen of the screen, and her blue eyes are still as piercing and captivating as ever. She brings grace, depth and quiet humour to a script that does not deserve her.

But beyond Pfeiffer’s charm, "Oh. What. Fun." is just a 107-minute borefest.

** I give it two out of five stars.