Summary
The film perfectly intertwines laugh-out-loud scenes with heartfelt moments, making this one of the best feel-good comedies of the year.
It’s rare for a comedy movie to induce uncontrollable laughter in me while telling a heartfelt story. Quiz Lady, which found its way to Hulu after premiering at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, is such a gem.
The star-studded film was directed by Jessica Yu and is led by Sandra Oh and Awkwafina. It tells the story of two sisters who must find a way to pay their absentee mother’s gambling debts. Thankfully, one of the sisters is a savant and a lifelong fan of a popular game show.
Quiz Lady review and plot summary
Anne (Awkwafina) and her older sister Jenny (Sandra Oh) couldn’t be any more different if they tried. They were both raised by a neglectful mother with a gambling addiction and their father left because of said problem.
Where Anne is an introvert working a boring and unfulfilling office job, Jenny is an outgoing drifter who’s yet to find herself (or stable employment for that matter).
As a child, Anne found solace in watching a popular quiz show (similar to Jeopardy!) hosted by the bowtie-wearing Terry McTeer (Will Ferrell) and is still a superfan in her 30s. Every night, without fail, Anne snuggles up with her beloved dog, Linguini, and watches the show.
The two estranged sisters are unexpectedly reunited when their mother escapes her assisted living facility to head to Macau with a new boyfriend. Of course, she leaves behind a huge gambling debt with no intention of ever paying it back.
RELATED: Is Quiz Lady based on a true story?
When Jenny secretly films her sister correctly answering every question on the quiz show, Anne inadvertently becomes a viral sensation. Unfortunately, internet stardom leads to a terrifying bookie finding Anne and kidnapping her beloved pug as a ransom for her mother’s debt.
With no other options, the two sisters head to Philadephia, where Anne needs to audition for a chance to take part in her beloved quiz show. Sure, Anne might not fully be on board with the plan, but that’s nothing a little kidnapping plan won’t solve.
Quiz Lady is hilariously charming. The film mixes up elements of slapstick and situational comedy without falling into the trap of being too ridiculous.
These characters’ predicament is funny, yet Quiz Lady doesn’t forget to show us their human side. Anne and Jenny’s relationship as two sisters who drifted apart feels genuine.
It helps that the on-screen chemistry between Awkwafina and Sandra Oh is electric. They bounce off each other’s performances well and it’s easy to believe the sisterly connection their characters share.
Is Quiz Lady worth streaming?
The rest of the cast do a fantastic job as well. Will Ferrell’s portrayal of the game show host Terry is sweet yet nuanced, while Jason Schwartzman is brilliant as the over-the-top contestant who secretly wants to become the show’s new host.
Quiz Lady is a brilliant comedy elevated by a strong cast, making it worth watching at least once on Hulu. It has plenty of hilarious moments and, more importantly, a sweet story about two sisters finding their way back to each other despite shared adversity.
What did you think of Quiz Lady? Comment below.
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