“We could sell your eggs. I mean, it’s not like you’re using them.” –Jenny
Sometimes families are complicated, and in Quiz Lady, audiences can experience this with hilarious results when two sisters come together for an awkward reunion and an unexpected road trip to try out for a game show.
When Anne (Awkwafina) receives a call that her mother is missing from her retirement residence and goes to investigate, she reunites with her unreliable sister, Jenny (Sandra Oh), and shenanigans ensue. The siblings have little in common, and their lives took different paths over the years. However, when they find out that their mother purposely fled her retirement home for Macau to avoid paying back a gambling debt, Anne and Jenny must work together to form a plan to pay the loan shark who is holding Anne’s beloved pug, Linguine, for ransom.
Unbeknownst to Anne, Jenny secretly records her while they are watching the game show Can’t Stop the Quiz, and after Jenny uploads the clip to social media, Anne swiftly goes viral. With a place on the show at stake and the need to get Linguine back, Jenny convinces Anne that this is their chance to get the money they require to pay off their mother’s debt and get the beloved family dog back.
An official selection at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, the Jessica Yu-directed comedy is funny and heart-warming. Written by Jen D’Angelo, the film has well-written characters that many viewers will adore and a relatability with which many will likely find kinship. Getting along with family members is not always easy. Still, when something important is at stake (like getting back a beloved pet), people usually let bygones be bygones for the greater good.
While Anne and Jenny might have been on different pages for the last few years of their lives, spending this time together – even though it’s not the best of circumstances – is another bonding experience they will be able to cherish as sisters. The film demonstrates that while people may drift apart or lives take them in different directions, there is always the possibility of reconciliation and understanding if it’s something the parties involved want.
This is illustrated perfectly in Quiz Lady and made even better by the hysterical cast performances. Sandra Oh and Awkwafina have great chemistry as sisters who are polar opposites. Whether sharing a comedic scene stuck in a Benjamin Franklin-themed hotel room or reminiscing over a cherished childhood memory, the duo executes every scene efficiently. There’s no mistaking them for anything other than sisters who are often at odds throughout the film.
Although not in the film as much as the movie’s leading ladies, kudos have to be given to Holland Taylor, Will Ferrell and Jason Schwartzman. The trio portrays Francine (Anne’s neighbour), Terry McTeer (host of Can’t Stop the Quiz) and Ron Heacock (the current Can’t Stop the Quiz champion), respectively. All three are hilarious in their own right and pitch-perfect during their limited screen time. Holland and Schwartzman are especially hysterical, working well against Awkwafina’s Anne.
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Quiz Lady remains an enjoyable film and one of the funnier offerings showcased at TIFF 2023. Sure to bring lots of laughs and catch you in the feels from time to time, watching the film is a surefire way to spend an evening.
Muses of Media 
Leave a comment