Quiz Lady

"Quiz Lady" is like a game show itself - a mix of the familiar and the surprising, with just enough excitement to keep you in your seat. This 2023 flick directed by the up-and-coming Jessica Yu plays out like a quirky love letter to game show enthusiasts, but with a twist that's more daytime TV than prime-time drama.

Anne, our game show whiz, is a character you can't help but root for, despite her slightly neurotic tendencies. The film's strength lies in its portrayal of the chaotic, yet endearing bond between Anne and her wild card sister, Jenny. Their dynamic, peppered with flashbacks and nostalgic bickering, forms the heart of the story, making their journey from estranged siblings to team players both touching and believable. The subplot involving their mother's gambling addiction and the loan shark adds a touch of thrill, albeit a tad cliché.

But where "Quiz Lady" stumbles is in its predictability. The twists, like Jenny's double bluff about the lawsuit, feel more telegraphed than shocking. The hallucinogenic audition scene, while hilarious, borders on the absurd, detracting from the film's otherwise grounded humor. It's a rollercoaster that doesn't always keep you guessing, but it sure does keep you smiling.

The film's climax, a game of charades on "Can't Stop the Quiz," is a standout, blending humor and heart in a crescendo that's both satisfying and slightly cheesy. Anne's transition from a nervous wreck to a game show legend is the stuff of underdog dreams, though it happens a bit too neatly. The final reconciliation with Jenny, tied up with the bow of familial love, might feel a bit too convenient for some.

In conclusion, "Quiz Lady" is a decent watch. It's the kind of film you'd enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it doesn't need to. With solid performances, especially the cantankerous neighbor Francine offering sage life advice, it's a comforting, if somewhat formulaic, journey. It's not going to change your life, but it'll definitely brighten your day.

It's a fun entertaining comedy with some good directing from Jessica You and great chemistry between Sandra Oh and Awkwafina. Throughout, the production sets and camerawork is solid and it helps to present the setting and atmosphere pretty well. The narrative is the typical sister bonding comedy blended with game shows and while it is pretty standard, it still holds on pretty well with the two good performances from Oh and Awkwafina who both provided great chemistry and charm together.

There are some solid dialogue moments between the characters and pacing is good. Most of the humor is solid but some of the humorous aspects felt a little forced, especially regarding on internet culture as the internet culture humors felt a bit out of place. The soundtrack is a little annoying at times. Overall, it's nothing too special but it's entertaining.

In fresh, charming comedy "Quiz Lady" nerdy Awkwafina's life centres around her dog and her fave tv quiz show (with host Will Ferrell & smarmy champ Jason Schwartzman) - so when her dog's kidnapped by mobster Jon Park, her sister Sandra Oh & crotchety neighbour Holland Taylor 'convince' her to go on the show to raise his ransom. It's pretty daft & silly, but Jen D'Angelo infuses ample sisterly warmth into her second screenplay, and director Jessica Yu elicits fine comic performances from her impressive cast (including a Paul Reubens cameo in his final movie - RIP). While not the most demanding or high-brow film out there, it's heart-lifting and fun. Good enough.

First, Sandra Oh needs to stick to comedy. I have never enjoyed her in dramas, she comes across as whiny and cold but she is terrific in this and a good foible for Awkwafina.

Not a laugh out loud comedy but touching and sweet. Will Farrell should stick to smaller parts like this. When he's the lead he is overwhelming but in smaller parts he often steals the show. The best part is that you don't even see it as an "Asian" movie, you just see two damaged people looking for a purpose in life. When race disappears in movies, you know that it's a well written and well acted film.

Give this one a chance.

I laughed at this movie so much, Awkwafina is perfect in every film she's in. She plays the complete opposite of her famous Peik Lin Goh "Asian Ellen" character from Crazy Rich Asians and still absolutely kills it as a shy, obsessively organized office worker who is probably "on the spectrum." Sandra Oh shows up as her insane but loveable older sister. I was dying when Oh, as a middle aged woman, put on puffy pink sleeves and platform sneakers like a K-Pop fan half her age ..in fact she doubles down HARD on this K-Pop vibe variously throughout the film despite playing a Chinese woman in her 40s. The film is constantly messing with stereotypes this way, using them preemptively to mess with the viewer as part of the joke (Sandra Oh is actually a Canadian-American woman of Korean descent).

Just watch it if you're looking for something super fun to laugh at.