Quiz Lady

I remember that the quiz contest I watched the most in the past was the "One Word One Action" contest. From the moment it started until the end, I would try to answer every question excitedly, and when I got it right, I would rejoice as if I was a participant in the contest and had won a prize.

[source](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/1IQL2ifKaEckTugTyS5uVHddSTO.jpg)

What reminded me of this contest was the 2023 movie Quiz Lady. Although not as much as the character of Anne in the movie, I really liked following quiz shows. Awkwafina, who plays the character of Anne, perfectly reflects her admiration for the quiz show host.

The admiration that starts at a young age and her ability to answer almost all the questions turns into a pleasure to watch throughout the movie. You respect the admiration and the desire to follow the competition tirelessly, and you can feel that the patience shown will be rewarded. Especially in the scenes during the competition, the movie was very successful in drawing the audience into the story.

While the comedy and show genre production offers an enjoyable viewing time, the elements added later in the story lead to some exaggerated scenes. I like exaggeration in action or comedy movies because even if the story is based on reality, it manages to drag me into another realm during the viewing.

[source](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/amn608coM0n5Z2RuNpb41uCyr5X.jpg)

Being a direct participant in a game show that for many years, one could only watch from afar, and bringing the excitement of the screen to the studio, in my opinion, contains the most gripping scenes of the story. I found Awkwafina's acting as Anne, one of the two sisters, successful both in the way she showed her admiration and in the way she lived and showed the difference between the screen and the studio.

Sandra Oh as Jenny, the second of the sisters, was more entertaining and played the comedic side of the movie. Her irresponsible behavior and the fact that she didn't lose her sense of fun despite the ebb and flow between having a troubled parent was memorable as it was typical of the character she portrayed. My favorite, however, was Awkwafina, because she perfectly portrayed the admiration for the television competition and its host.

[source](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/ibxgYgrwt7np9xgxwWkGVLvBkgB.jpg)

Quiz Lady offers the viewer a comedic production with a show and entertainment component. The events that develop through the admiration for a game show and its host offer an interesting viewing pleasure with the elements added to the story. If you think the movie appeals to you in this aspect, I recommend watching the movie. Personally, I liked the movie and enjoyed it during the viewing time.

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I saw Awkwafina and Sandra Oh on the film poster of this recent release and knew I must watch it. I admire these ladies for their acting talents, especially Sandra Oh. Their collaboration would certainly be an interesting one and it turned out so.

Directed by Jessica You, Quiz Lady (2023) is an American comedy that celebrates sisterhood, self-acceptance and second chances. The film is about Anne Yum (played by Awkwafina) who watches every episode of "Can't Stop The Quiz", a nighttime quiz show right from a young age. She's intelligent but shy and battles anxiety when others look at her. Her one constant companion is her obese pug, Linguini.

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Anne gets a call that her mother is missing from the nursing home. She arrives there and at the same time, her estranged sister, Jenny (played by Sandra Oh) appears in a tight black dress believing their mother is dead. The sisters discover their mother fled to Macau. Jenny begs to spend a few days with Anne in her apartment. At night, when Jenny sees Anne answer all the questions posed on the quiz show, she makes a video of her which goes viral.

Anne is unhappy about it and becomes anxious. A bookie appears to say their mother owes him eight grand in gambling debts so he steals Anne's pug Linguini and threatens to release it after the debt is paid. Will Anne be willing to appear on the quiz show to free her pig?

Review

This comedy is not that great but focused on bringing two estranged sisters together. One thing the audience would agree on is that Sandra Oh and Awkwafina deliver impressive performances as estranged sisters, Anne and Jenny, who despite the odds against them, embark on a funny road trip to save their dog. Or should I say, the impressive performance was more from Sandra Oh. She had a blast with her character, more than I expected. Jenny is fun, flighty, has blue-pinkish highlights in her hair and seems to have the solution to every problem.

Awkwafina's performance is sort of muted. Her Anne is the film's central protagonist but she doesn't stand out. She's quiet, shy and anxious. Her one-liners are a little disappointing for me as I wanted to see and know more about her character. The only scene where this actress loosens up is when Sandra (Jenny) gives her a street drug for anxiety and she becomes high.

The cinematography is not bad and the pacing of the film is good. There are a few scenes where Sandra poked fun at the topics of racism and Asian stereotypes. The emotional and heartwarming scenes are great. I love how director Jessica Yu blends in short flashbacks from the past to explain the present and bring to light the heart of the story. It also sends the message that it's never too late to mend broken relationships and pursue goals that prove too tough to accomplish.

Overall, Quiz Lady is a decent, fun watch, the kind you enjoy on a Sunday evening, lounging on a couch. Though the performances are solid, the makers don't take themselves too seriously. So if you're looking to brighten your day, you may see this film. I'll give it 3 stars out of 5.

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