Far from the usual clichés of Christmas films, this new comedy highlights the exhaustion and lack of consideration of mothers at this time of year. The opportunity to send a (not so subtle) message to your family, while having a pleasant time in front of the TV!
This is a subject that will undoubtedly speak to all mothers: the mental load around the end of year holidays. “No one sees everything moms do”this is the premise of this Christmas film which is unlike any other. From the first minutes, the protagonist lays the foundations: why do Christmas films all feature men, starting with Santa Claus himself, while the real holiday heroines are never recognized for their true value?
From perfectly calibrated decorations, to carefully chosen and wrapped Christmas gifts, including of course the shopping, the meal or the activities that go with it… Mothers often play the role of these “little elves” who work discreetly to ensure that the whole family has a good time. A never-ending list of things to do that turns the “most magical time of the year” into a marathon. Because behind the magic of childhood memories lies a quasi-military organization that no one notices, as long as everything goes smoothly. But all moms want is a little help and above all, a simple “thank you”.
This is the case of Claire, played by the famous actress Michelle Pfeiffer, in this new film called Merry Christmas, mom! released on Amazon Prime Video in early December. At 67, she is the mother of three grown children who have left home, and who all return together with their spouses and their own children to celebrate Christmas in the family home. And although she had planned everything so that the holidays would go perfectly… that’s far from the case. She doesn’t get the only gift she asked for and, worse still, the whole tribe forgets it when they leave for an outing she herself organized. For Claire, it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back: she “lost a lead”, deciding to leave to finally take care of her and live her own Christmas as she wishes.
This new genre of comedy, which moves away from the traditional clichés of Christmas films, celebrates mom’s version of “girl power”. With strong figures such as Eva Longoria in particular, he finally says what we are thinking: the fed up of these women neglected and underestimated by their families, who are nevertheless “the real heroines of the end of year celebrations”.
If you want to make a change from Christmas movies, Merry Christmas, mom! is the ideal compromise. Children, parents and even grandparents will undoubtedly find themselves there. A little clarification for the youngest: if the film is suitable for all ages, there is however a brief scene with cannabis consumption and some very subtle allusions to sexuality. In short, a movie session to share with the family, if only to remind everyone to appreciate a little more the efforts of the one who makes Christmas possible.
