This has been a banner year for comedic films starring women and I am here for it. We had “No Hard Feelings,” “Joy Ride” and “Bottoms,” all giving women some beefy comedy roles. And now director Jessica Wu along with writer Jen D’Angelo have presented us with yet another entertaining movie, “Quiz Lady,” currently streaming on Hulu.
Growing up with an alcoholic father and a gambling addicted mother, Anne Yum (Awkwafina) would escape into her favorite television show, “Can’t Stop the Quiz,” hosted by Terry McTeer (Will Ferrell).
Anne’s sister Jenny (Sandra Oh) is a free spirit, leaving Anne to a life of quiet solitude, with just her dog to keep her company. When their mother escapes the assisted living facility, the sisters are reunited. When Jenny realizes that Anne can answer every question on CSTQ, she secretly records her sister and posts the video online. It goes viral and results in the show’s producers contacting them for Anne to audition.
However, it also alerts the Chinese Mafia to their whereabouts and they come to the sisters to collect the debt that their mother left. The sisters need to find a way to get the money and fix their broken relationship in the process.
Straight-to-streaming comedies are not generally a good bet, but “Quiz Lady” was a really fun watch. While the story follows most of the beats one would expect from this kind of movie, they keep the tone consistent throughout, making the film a joy to watch. We get to see the sisters learn about each other as adults, which changes them while allowing them to maintain their own identities. I found that was handled better than in many movies. The heartfelt aspects of the movie are lovely without becoming cloying.
The chemistry between Awkwafina and Oh is fantastic. The actors play characters who are reversals of the roles they usually play and both of them are obviously having fun playing against type.
The supporting cast rounds everything out beautifully. Jason Schwartzman plays the reigning quiz show champion and dominates when he is on screen, and Farrell brings a surprising amount of heart to his role as the show host. The movie also features the late Paul Reubens in one of my favorite cameos in recent years.
For too long, women have been largely excluded from leading comedic roles. The talent has, of course, always existed, but leading comedy roles have primarily been awarded to male actors.
As more women have taken positions behind the camera as writers and directors, we are seeing a shift, allowing a wider range of characters for women to play on screen.
“Quiz Lady” might be a predictable story, but I could not have predicted just how much I would enjoy it. No test at the end of this review, but if there were, the right answer would be to watch the movie right away.
ALISE CHAFFINS is a Morgantown writer who loves movies and sharing her opinions, as well as a member of the International Film Society Critics Association. She reviews a movie from a streaming service every Saturday and one newly in theaters every Sunday. Find more at MacGuffin or Meaning on Substack.
