‘Quiz Lady’ reviews: Awkwafina and Sandra Oh ‘craft a prickly sibling chemistry’ in Hulu comedy
On November 3, 2023, Hulu released “Quiz Lady” starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as sisters who band together to eliminate their mother’s gambling debts and raise money to pay the ransom for a kidnapped dog. In order to do so, Anne’s (Awkwafina) uncanny skills at gameshows must come into play. The ensemble cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Tony Hale, Will Ferrell and Holland Taylor.
Critics have had positive things to say about the comedy directed by Jessica Yu and written by Jen D’Angelo. It is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 81%. The critics consensus reads, “‘Quiz Lady’s’ perfectly matched leads help Jessica Yu’s occasionally uneven comedy overcome its periodic wobbles and land on the right side of hilarious and heartfelt.” Read our full review round-up below.
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Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com praises the film, stating, “While Yu doesn’t always balance the zany physical comedy and earnest family drama she aims for, and D’Angelo’s script is packed with far too many threads, the film works largely thanks to the irrepressible charm of star Sandra Oh.” Gates adds, “Oh and Awkwafina craft a prickly sibling chemistry, where shared memories and traumas from their childhood collide, evoking a myriad of mixed emotions.”
Valerie Complex of Deadline writes, “Themes of destiny and fate are interwoven throughout the film, reminding viewers of the trajectory of life and the challenge of accepting it. But the overarching narrative, while significant in its representation of Asian experiences and the potency of sisterhood, treads the middle ground. It doesn’t elicit laughter or substantial emotional pull, leaning into predictability despite its occasional fun moments. This doesn’t mean ‘Quiz Lady’ isn’t important because its always good to see varied narratives about the Asian experience.”
Lovia Gyarkye of Hollywood Reporter notes, “’Quiz Lady’ is a film that wears its silly contrivances and heart proudly. It may not be consistently funny — the jokes start to feel one-note by the end — but fine performances from its stacked cast will make it an appealing Friday night option when it premieres on Hulu in November.” Gyarkye continues, “Awkwafina and Oh let loose and tackle their roles with an infectious enthusiasm, but the repetitive nature of the humor and the strained physical comedy can sometimes edge their characters toward caricature. Awkwafina slumps her shoulders and delivers most of Anne’s lines in trademark deadpan style. To capture Jenny’s dramatic nature, Oh indulges in a hyper-femme style (costume design is by Brenda Abbandandolo) and shrieks whenever her character has an aha moment.”
Christopher James of The Film Experience was less impressed, stating, “The heart of the film is Anne’s love for her quiz show. It’s a pure and comforting love that is respected and paid off in a final act on the show of her dreams. Despite a rocky and unfunny hour before it, the movie kicks up some energy in its final act and arrives at a bit of pathos, even if it does so predictably. Awkwafina really excels in this beat. Anne is living a dream she never dared to dream and is scared to fail or to have her fantasies shattered. This finally gives the movie real stakes, rather than a ‘ransom’ around their mother that is conveniently forgotten scene to scene.”
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