by Jeffery Rahming, Contributing Writer
Director Jessica Yu is mainly known for her sobering documentaries, such as 2011’s Last Call At The Oasis,about the global water crisis, or the award-winning short, Breathing Lessons, about the life of poet Mark O’ Brian. Her work is usually dramatic and based in reality, which of course makes Quiz Lady a seeming left turn for her career. The last comedy she directed was 2007’s Ping Pong Playa, a low-budget comedy about a family of Asian-American ping-pong savants that became a minor cult classic in the early days of Netflix.
Yu returns to her themes of Asian-American family dynamics with her two leads: sisters Anne (Awkwafina) and Jenny Yum (Sandra Oh). Anne is a socially anxious introvert whose only outlet is Can’t Stop The Quiz, an intense, Jeopardy-like show hosted by the eccentric Terry McTeer (Will Ferrell), and Jenny is her wild, older sister who, at 43, still acts like a 16-year-old. When their gambling-addict mother flees the country with a mysterious lover, the two sisters find out that their mom owes thousands of dollars to a group of local gangsters. The gang wants their money back one way or another, so Jenny convinces, or rather, forces, Anne into overcoming her anxiety to become the quiz champion she was always meant to be.
Quiz Lady can best be described as a kitchen-sink comedy, featuring everything from drug trips that pay a visit to heaven and hell to Tony Hale playing a not-so-historically-accurate Ben Franklin while running a hotel. The script is pretty much back-to-back gags that only increase in absurdity the longer the film goes. It’s one of those comedies where things very little make sense if you think about it for even a second, which only works if your movie is actually funny. Thankfully, Quiz Lady has enough laughs to keep you engaged in the zaniness the whole time.
Awkwafina is usually typecast as the loud, obnoxious comedic relief, and while she’s good at it, it’s a shame that she doesn’t get to really flex her acting chops (if there are any doubters of her ability, please watch the incredible film The Farewell, which she’s amazing in). While not necessarily a dramatic role, she is the straight man in this comedy, compared to her zany sister, and she is great as the quiet, demure Anne. It’s an excellent showcase of her range as an actress. Oh also does a great job playing against her usual type, taking the role of the crazy sister. It’s interesting to think that either of the women could’ve played the other role, and the movie would’ve been just as good. There have been a lot of great Asian-American comedies in recent years, but this one is different in that identity isn’t as much of the focus as it is in say Crazy Rich Asians or this year’s Joy Ride. The relationship between the two women is the main dramatic and comedic crux of the whole film, and it works rather well. They’re polar opposites, and their dynamic will be relatable to anybody with someone in their life that they love, but struggle to understand. The adventure to get on the game show is just as much about repairing their frayed bond as they unpack their past, deal with their troubling present, and figure out what they want out of their future.
Quiz Lady is the definition of a good time. I wouldn’t say it’s a laugh-a-minute, oh-my-god-I-can’t-breathe kind of experience, but it’s enough to keep you entertained, which is what you’re looking for when it comes to a streaming movie. Not the most impressive comedy, but it makes for a fun night in if you want something that will warm your heart and give you a few chuckles.
Rating: Liked It
Quiz Lady is currently streaming on Hulu
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