Quiz Lady

Both Sandra Oh and Akwafina give great funny/heart warming performances. Never would I think Oh would do such a role. Going into the movie, I was hesitant, but very quickly fell in love with her character. Akwafina plays a more serious role than usual, but still keeps things light. This is one of the few films of recent years that's rewatchable and will produce laughs and cries each time. Great unexpected punchlines on what you think are about to be classic tropes. This movie is worth a watch if you're looking for something to lift your spirits. And if nothing else, Mr Linguine is the best thing to happen to 2023.

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.

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.

Perennial scene stealer Awkwafina lets a hilariously freewheeling Sandra Oh walk away with this rambunctious 2023 comedy as they play estranged sisters who are forced to pay off their runaway mother's $80K gambling debt by competing on a Jeopardy-like game show, Can't Stop the Quiz. Awkwafina tamps down her cutting screen persona playing the put-upon little sister Anne who has become an avid expert CSQ player at home. Older sister Jenny is an irresponsible free spirit who pushes Anne to become a contestant. You can figure out the rest, yet director Jessica Yu and screenwriter Jen D'Angelo inject surprising humanism into the battery-operated plot as well as hilarious scenes like Anne's phantasmagoric drug-induced episode. A strong supporting cast helps considerably with Will Ferrell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Schwartzman playing key roles. There's also a sweet, unexpected cameo at the end.

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.