We had the chance to speak to director Jessica Yu about her new Sandra Oh / Awkwafina led comedy, “Quiz Lady.” Television trivia show fanatics will delight in the not so subtle homages to one of the longest running quiz shows in history.
In the film, Awkwafina plays a savant level font of factoids. Oh plays her reckless and irresponsible older sister. The duo run into trouble when their mother’s gambling debts come to haunt them. Oh proposes participating in the show Awkwafina is obsessed with as a fast way to earn the cash. The host of said show is Terry McTeer, played by Will Ferrell (who also serves as a producer on the film).
“Saturday Night Live” fans will have to temper their expectations, though as Ferrell’s performance in this is more aligned with a much softer character. Ironically, probably even more friendly towards contestants than late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, whose sharp wit is severely missed.
Writer Jen D’Angelo is clearly familiar with modern quiz show drama and politics. Fans of the genre will recognize several nods to relatively recent events and players in the space. Combined with the cultural specificity added by Yu, Oh, and Awkwafina makes for a fun ride.
We found it succeeded the most when it was focusing on the family and fortune elements. There were aspects of some of the zanier complications of the mother’s gambling that felt a little weaker than the main story of the sisters. However it’s certainly worth a watch.
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The film rounds out the cast with Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, and a heartwarming cameo we won’t spoil here.
More about “Quiz Lady”
In the original film, a brilliant but tightly wound, gameshow-obsessed young woman, Anne (Awkwafina), and her estranged, train-wreck of a sister Jenny (Oh), must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. When Anne’s beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild, cross-country trek to get the cash the only way they know how: by turning Anne into a bona fide gameshow champion.
“Quiz Lady” is now streaming on Hulu.
