Tag: Streaming Movie

OH. WHAT. FUN.

2025   Amazon MGM Studios

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  47min

Christmas ~ Comedy

Directed by:  Michael Showalter

Starring:  Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, and Joan Chen.

Come For The Presents, Stay For The Baggage!

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. From perfectly frosted cookies to meticulously wrapped gifts, no one decks the halls quite like Claire. But this year, after planning a special outing for her family, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script.

With a dazzling ensemble cast including Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria and Joan Chen, and directed by Michael Showalter, Oh. What. Fun. is a spirited holiday comedy that honors and celebrates every overworked holiday host.

THE MOVIE REVIEW:

Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) has a Christmas problem, she feels under-appreciated. Year after year she goes all out, decorating, baking, shopping, planning, cooking, wrapping presents, getting the entire extended family together and keeping them happy and festive. Her husband Nick doesn’t help as much as she would like, but then he is a guy. There is a Best Holiday Mom Contest being held by her favorite TV Talk show hosted by Zazzy Tims. Claire would love nothing more than to be nominated by her children but they are so busy with their lives they forget to nominate her.

As Christmas Eve approaches there are festive fiascos around the house as the family piles in one after another, bringing their own personal dramas with them. Claire also has a long running animosity with the neighbor family next door, the two Mom’s always trying to one up each other during the holidays. The Final straw for Claire comes when the whole family is getting ready to go to a Christmas show in the city. As they are piling into different cars in the rush to go, Claire pops over to her rival neighbor to give her a homemade Christmas goodie bag. With the family all thinking that she is in one of the other cars, they leave Mom Claire behind.

When Claire realizes that her family has left her behind, it was the last straw. She packs a few things as well as some Christmas snacks and heads off in her car. She’s had enough, she is leaving the family. Depressed, frustrated and under-appreciated she hits the road not knowing where she is going. And that’s where the rest of this Festive fiasco takes us, following Claire’s new forlorn, underappreciated Christmas alone and her family’s stark realization that Claire has had enough, packed her bag and hit the road.

As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of Christmas Vacation. I don’t know if it was intentionally paying homage to, or trying to duplicate some of the humorous holiday scenes we all know and love in Christmas Vacation. It was no where near as funny as the classic Christmas Vacation. I feel like it was trying too hard. The names of the characters were a little out there, Eva Langoria as Zazzy Tims? Chloë Grace Moritz brought her girlfriend DJ Sweatpants? Claire’s arch nemesis neighbor Jeanne Wang-Wasserman? Sammy’s girlfriend is named Mae-Bell?

It was alright, a little campy and not as funny as I think they wanted it to be. I think if you are a guy, you are not gonna get it nor like it. If you are a gal, Mom or Grandmother, I think you are going to be right on top of the bandwagon. This Christmas Catastrophe is made for women about women being under-appreciated at the holidays.

There you go!

OH. WHAT. FUN.

Photo by Alisha Wetherill
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Photo by Alisha Wetherill
© Amazon Content Services LLC

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

New Movie Merv Debuts On Prime Wednesday December 10, 2025

Get in the Holiday Spirit with the new Holiday Rom-Com Merv starring Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, Chris Redd, and Patricia Heaton. Streaming Globally on Prime Video Wednesday December 10th, 2025.

When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway—only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.

On set of MERV
Photo Credit: Dana Hawley/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
MERV
Photo Credit: Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New on Netflix & Prime Video this coming week December 7 – December 13, 2025

Between Netflix and Prime, there are 5 New Movie Releases this week!

The Fakenapping (a Saudi Arabian comedy film, originally in Arabic), Lost in the Spotlight (an Indonesian comedy-drama film, originally in Indonesian) and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (the third installment in the Knives Out Movie Franchise) all debut on Netflix this week.

While Prime brings us Merv (a Holiday Rom-com starring Zooey Deschanel) and Tell Me Softly (a Spanish Romance Movie).

 

NETFLIX:

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Margot Robbie in Babylon (2022)
2022     R
A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
Brad Pitt     Margot Robbie     Jean Smart
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Tom Hanks in Cast Away (2000)
2000     PG-13
A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island.
Tom Hanks     Helen Hunt     Paul Sanchez
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The Fakenapping                                        December 10
2025     Unrated
Failed entrepreneur Sattam finds himself tangled in a madcap scheme when he decides to repay his debts by kidnapping his own father.
Abdullah AlDaris     Mohammed Aldokhei     Saeed Alewiran
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Vino G. Bastian in Lost in the Spotlight (2025)
2025     Unrated
A narcissistic performer’s world crumbles when he mysteriously loses his talent right before the biggest opportunity of his career.
Vino G. Bastian     Dea Panendra     Agus Kuncoro
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Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Thomas Haden Church, Mila Kunis, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Josh O'Connor, Daryl McCormack, and Cailee Spaeny in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
(New Movie)
2025     PG-13
Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.
Daniel Craig     Josh O’Connor     Glenn Close
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Jude Law, Matt Damon, and Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
1999     R
In late 1950s New York, a young underachiever named Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.
Matt Damon     Gwyneth Paltrow     Jude Law
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PRIME:

Anthony Hopkins, Mark Wahlberg, Erik Aadahl, Jim Carter, Peter Cullen, Laura Haddock, and Isabela Merced in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
2017     PG-13
A deadly threat from Earth’s history reappears and a hunt for a lost artifact takes place between Autobots and Decepticons, while Optimus Prime encounters his creator in space.
Mark Wahlberg     Anthony Hopkins     Josh Duhamel
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Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, and Gus in Merv (2025)
2025     PG
A recently separated couple take their shared dog on a holiday trip to cheer him up, but end up reconnecting romantically.
Zooey Deschanel     Charlie Cox     Ellyn Jameson
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Tell Me Softly (2025)
2025     Unrated
Kamila’s life turns upside down when the Di Bianco brothers return after 7 years. Thiago gave her first kiss, Taylor was her protector. Now she’s changed, but they still have a way of getting through to her like no one else can.
Ana Arean     Jan Buxaderas     Liliana Cabal

 

That’s all we can find for this week,

See you next week!

 

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare

2024    Lionsgate

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hrs

Action ~ Comedy ~ War ~ History ~ True Story

Directed By:  Guy Ritchie

Starring:  Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González.

NO RULES. NO REGRETS. JUST VICTORY

Henry Cavill stars as Major Gus March-Phillips who is brought out of Military Prison by Brigadier Colin Gubbins “M” and Ian Fleming late 1941 in England during World War II. He is tasked with heading Operation Postmaster, a last resort mission dreamt up by Winston Churchill, “M” and Ian. An unsanctioned secret operation to go to the Spanish island of Fernando Po in Africa, where the Nazi’s are resupplying their U-boats that are decimating the Royal Navy fleet, and destroy the resupply ships.

Accompanied by Irishman Henry Hayes(Hero Fiennes Tiffin), Freddy “The Buzz” “Frogman” Alvarez(Henry Golding), and “The Danish Hammer” Anders Lassen(Alan Ritchson), they sail around the coast of Africa to La Palma Canary Islands where they storm a Nazi Garrison and extract Geoffrey Appleyard(Alex Pettyfer). They then continue on the Swedish fishing Trawler Maid Of Honor to the Spanish port of Fernando Po to destroy the Nazi resupply ships. A suicide mission fraught with  perils and unexpected twists and turns. They sail between the British Navy ships on one side who will incarcerate them and the Nazi U-boats on the other that will kill them.

This is based on the true story of the first Black Ops before there was such a thing. The beginnings of Agencies like the Navy Seals, CIA and other world agencies that were spawned to do the dirty work under the radar. Gus March-Phillips was the inspiration for James Bond in Ian Flemings novels. Sir Christopher Lee who starred in and was a consultant on numerous James Bond movies, was a member of The Ministry Of Gentlemanly Warfare in it’s early days. He was also second cousin to Ian Fleming.

Cavill delivers his most charismatic performance since The Man from U.N.C.L.E., channeling that mustached grit with Guy Ritchie flair, while his co-stars, like a sharp-shooting Eiza González and the ever-reliable Alan Ritchson, match his energy beat for beat. Christopher Lee’s nod to real history adds gravitas, reminding us these men and women changed the course of history.​

A thrilling blend of fact, legend, and adrenaline-fueled storytelling, this is one of the best True Story war films of recent years. These men and women helped change the course of history. It’s a fantastic story well told and portrayed by all involved in this movie. I love the True Story Movies and I love this one.

A great adventure!

Well done and highly recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

 

Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Henry Goldin in THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.
Photo Credit: Dan Smith for Lionsgate.
Courtesy of Lionsgate.

My Secret Santa

2025   Netflix

Rated:  PG

Length:  1 hr  30min

Christmas ~ Comedy ~ Romance

Directed by:  Michael Rohl

Starring:  Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold and Tia Mowry.

Single Mom. Double Life.

Taylor Jacobson (Alexandra Breckenridge) is a struggling single Mom who has just been fired from her job at Clotz Cookie Company, right before Christmas. To top that she runs into her landlord who reminds her that she is four months behind on her rent. She then finds out her daughter has been accepted to an elite snowboarding camp at Sun Peaks ski resort which is very expensive. Desperate for cash, the next day she takes her vinyl record collection down to the record store. A customer in the store notices a record by a local band The Screaming Kittens in her collection. When the record store owner offers her a hundred dollars, he insists the local band record is worth a lot more. He then realizes that Taylor is on the cover and used to be the lead singer of The Screaming Kittens.

Matthew Layne (Ryan Eggold), the customer, follows her out of the store and offers to buy her a hot chocolate but Taylor turns him down. Taylor tells her brother about her situation and he discovers that employees of the resort get 50% off the snowboarding camp that her daughter has been accepted at. She goes down to the resort to apply for a job and finds out that the only job available is for a male Santa Claus that pays two thousand dollars a week. With her brother being a costume creator and makeup artist, she cooks up a scheme to impersonate a male who can get the Santa job at the resort. She goes down to the resort in the prosthetic costume and gets the job as Santa Claus, using the name Hugh Man. She is immediately surprised to meet Matthew Layne who is the General Manager of the resort and whose father owns the resort.

Christmas comedy ensues as Taylor tries to keep Matthew from recognizing the lead singer of The Screaming Kittens who turned down his offer of a date. As Taylor, ah-hum, Hugh Man, works with Matthew at the resort playing Santa, he keeps thinking that there is something familiar about “Hugh”. As they bond, he starts confiding in “Hugh” about the woman he met and is starting to have feelings for. Hilariously he asks “Hugh” for advice on how to better get to know Taylor, who is right in front of him. Things get more complex as the season rolls by, and Taylor tries to keep Hugh’s real identity a secret. Her daughter’s snowboarding aspirations and the rent are depending on it.

Alexandra and Ryan are good together in this, they pull off the Christmas Santa Chaos and hit it off with a rocking musical number on stage at the end. It is a little campy in it’s own cute way, but definitely worth a Holiday watch.