‘Quiz Lady’ Movie Review (TIFF 2023)
Image credit: Courtesy of TIFF
Get your best thinking cap on, grab your favourite snacks, and turn on the TV, because Jessica Yu’s new comedy ‘Quiz Lady’ is making its way to Hulu soon.
The film includes big names such as Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Holland Taylor, Jason Schwartzman, Will Ferrell, and Jon Park.
‘Quiz Lady’ follows Anne and her older sister Jenny as they reunite for what they thought was their mother’s passing, after receiving a call from her nursing home saying “she’s gone.”
Upon their arrival at the home, they realise “she’s gone” actually meant “she ran away to gamble again.” un-surprised and annoyed with her mother Anne is ready to leave and continue her perfectly planned life of solitude with her beloved dog, 9 to 5 job and favourite nightly game show.
Unfortunately for Anne, her estranged sister has been hit with a rough patch money-wise and decides to stay with her until she’s back on her feet. Anne is convinced that her life can’t get pushed off track any further but is quickly proven wrong.
After a normal night of watching her favourite quiz show and answering every question, Anne wakes up to become a viral sensation after her sister posted a video of her answering all the questions correctly.
Now with her newfound fame and a kidnapped dog due to her mother’s gambling debt, Anne and Jenny set out on a wild cross-country trek to get the cash they need to pay off the debt and get her dog back.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the combination of Awkwafina and Sandra Oh since they usually have different roles than what the film gave them, but I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with the change of pace for both of them.
Awkwafina who is usually the comedic relief in films (ex: Crazy Rich Asians, The Little Mermaid, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) was able to do a complete 360 with her role and portray a quiet and rule-abiding character like Anne.
On the other hand Sandra Oh who is best known for her more serious and emotional roles (ex: Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve, The Chair) took on a high comedy role that was unexpected but worked perfectly.
Both actresses put on amazing performances that conveyed the real and sometimes annoying emotions that come with having a sibling, their chemistry was undeniable throughout the movie.
This film also has a focus on tying in the character's clothing choices with how they grow throughout the movie. Although it’s a simple thing to point out, it showed the character development and pulled together the story that Jessica Yu was trying to convey.
A key example of this is the fact that Awkwafina’s character Anne starts out wearing very bland colours and outfits that cover her fully, this shows her overall insecurity in not only herself but in her confidence level, except for when she is in the safe space of her home her dog does she really “let loose”
On the other hand, Sandra’s character Jenny has a more let-loose, cropped, and colourful wardrobe which shows her maturity level is lower despite being the older sister.
Overall I give ‘Quiz Lady’ a 5 out of 5 stars.
From start to finish, this family-based comedy had the audience laughing non-stop while still feeling the deep love these sisters had for each other.
Both Sandra and Awkwafina gave electric performances and helped Jessica Yu bring this feel-good film to life perfectly. This is a film that will quickly become a fan favourite by all of these women.
If you enjoyed ‘Sisters’ or ‘Jeopardy’ I highly recommend watching ‘Quiz Lady’ when it releases on Hulu on November 3, 2023.
