Quiz Lady Review: A Fun, Sweet Sisterly Buddy Comedy

Considering the impressive roster of actors, I know it shouldn’t be such a surprise, but Quiz Lady is a wildly heartwarming and hilarious ride from beginning to end.

Growing up, Anne Yum didn’t have so many consistent comforts. After seeing her father leave, her mother emotionally checks out, and her sister leaves her behind. Her only comfort is the pug inherited from her sister Jenny, Mr. Linguine, and the Jeopardy-esque trivia show Can’t Stop the Quiz.

As an adult, Anne thrives in routine and avoids being perceived by anyone except her next-door neighbor. But when her mother runs away from her senior living facility and her sister returns, her life gets completely upended, and she’ll learn something new about herself along the wild ride.

To be honest, I’m going to say that of all the possible threats that would lead to this hilarious and sweet adventure Anne and her sister set out on, having Mr. Linguine dognapped is not high on that list. The way the movie subverts the classic trope is incredibly clever and provides a great premise for Anne and Jenny’s mission to get Anne on Can’t Stop the Quiz.

Awkwafina and Sandra Oh are both in fine form throughout Quiz Lady, with both getting plenty of opportunities to stretch their comedic and dramatic muscles. Watching Oh’s Jenny moving from comedy to deep sincerity is a delight. The moment she finally shares why she and Anne weren’t invited back to their cousin’s house 20 years ago, the siblings have that massive blowout in the middle of the breakfast buffet.

There’s something so beautiful and sweet about the movie’s exploration of sisterhood under the guise of a buddy comedy. It’s a little disarming, and the moments of vulnerability aren’t played for laughs or used for one sister to get the upper hand on the other. It does the opposite, allowing viewers to see the core of Anne and Jenny’s relationship through the years and how that support and love was always there.

It makes the last act more uplifting and heartfelt.

There’s another surprising emotional aspect of the movie that you don’t reasonably expect until it finally happens, thanks to Will Ferrell’s portrayal of Terry McTeer, host of Can’t Stop the Quiz. I don’t know if it’s done purposefully, but something reminds me so much of the late Alex Trebek in how Ferrell plays Terry. It’s another surprise that Quiz Lady hides up its sleeve as Ferrell plays it straight and plays the role with plenty of heart.

The moment Terry shares his years of wisdom with Anne during a commercial break is surprisingly emotional, and you can’t help but tear up as he tells her the story behind all his bow ties. Even the thought of the scene leaves me welling up a bit.

Jason Schwartzman plays the game show villain so well as almost record holder Rohn Heacock. It almost feels like an amalgamation of a few different caricatures of personalities, and it plays equally cringe and comedically.

The story is well-paced and doesn’t waste screen time, offering viewers an entertaining balance of heart and laughs with wonderful bits from Tony Hale as inn owner and Ben Franklin cosplayer to Holland Taylor as Anne’s grumpy, often-confused-about-pop-culture neighbor to the late, great Paul Reubens in a fun but bittersweet cameo.

The trope subversion is one of the things that sticks with you long after the credits roll because it is a delightful change of pace to see that the high stakes and the source of antagonism and catalyst is a dog-loving bookie who Anne and Jenny’s mother owes $80,000.

Overall, Quiz Lady is a delightfully entertaining time and worth a watch.

Random Thoughts

• Tony Hale as the inn owner is an inspired choice, and I will never forget his commitment to the bit.
• The wild ride that is Anne’s trip while trying to qualify for the show courtesy of Jenny’s goodie bag is lovely and hilarious.
• The writers choose not to show their mother at all throughout the movie. It helps keep the focus on the sisters and their relationship.

What did you think of this episode of Quiz Lady? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Quiz Lady is available to stream on Hulu. 

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