Feel-Good Buddy Comedy ‘Quiz Lady’ Starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina Is More Than Just Jokes and Gags

Get ready to laugh

Published Nov 3, 2023

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3:54pm

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Michele K Short/20th Century Studios

Who’s up for a fun game of trivia?

Before making its way to Hulu, brand-new film Quiz Lady first made its debut at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. Upon its release, the raunchy comedy received extremely positive fan feedback (both on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes).

And now that it’s officially arrived on Hulu, we can totally see why. The movie is the laugh-out-loud buddy comedy we didn’t know we needed. Quiz Lady boasts some major star power, with notable names like Sandra Oh (we’re obsessed with everything she does, from Grey’s Anatomy to Killing Eve), Awkwafina, Will Ferrell, Holland Taylor and even the late Paul Reubens.

So What Is ‘Quiz Lady’ About?

Written by Jessica Yu and directed by Jen D’Angelo, Quiz Lady follows a socially awkward woman named Anne (Awkwafina), who has a vast love for game show trivia. When she receives a phone call from the nursing home her mom is residing in stating that she is nowhere to be found, her rebellious older sister, Jenny (Oh), comes back to town.

To make matters worse, the sisters get approached by a gangster named Ken, who tells them their mom left behind a gambling debt of $85K. After their family dog is kidnapped and held for ransom, Anne and Jenny must think of a way to buy him back. Naturally, there’s only one solution: enter to compete in the trivia game show, Can’t Stop the Quiz, and win the grand prize. Sounds easy, right?

Our ‘Quiz Lady’ Review

To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect going into this movie. The trailer makes Quiz Lady seem like it’s just going to be your typical buddy comedy. But it turns out the film is so much more than that. From its raunchy jokes to its surprisingly sweet moments, Quiz Lady is the must-watch movie of the fall.

Michele K Short/20th Century Studios

Oh and Awkwafina have such great chemistry onscreen and they play off of each other so well. But the real scene-stealer? It would have to be Oh without question. In the past, the Grey’s Anatomy alum has been known to play rather similar roles. But this one is unlike any character she has portrayed. And she does a damn good job too. From her countless tattoos to her colorful hair, Oh makes the character her own. With her stellar comedic timing and quippy one-liners, the actress is a pleasure to watch onscreen. Even Awkwafina gives a notable performance, considering this role is so different from the comedic characters she has played in previous projects.

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Adding to the fun of the movie is that it’s one big throwback. Since the first half of the film takes place in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Quiz Lady features nods to pop culture moments that deliver all the nostalgia, like with an iconic callback to MTV’s The Real World. Even the trivia game show, Can’t Stop the Quiz, has a nostalgic Jeorpady!-esque feel to it.

Michele K Short/20th Century Studios

While Quiz Lady brings the laughs, it also manages to pull at the heartstrings. It doesn’t shy away from talking about issues that are real and relatable. Watching the sisters try to fix their broken relationship, Anne struggling with her social anxiety and Jenny searching for her purpose in life, the viewer has a chance to see the people behind the jokes and gags—which makes the movie that much more impressive.

PureWow Rating: 5 Out of 5

Quiz Lady is a fun, kooky ride that's enjoyable from beginning to end. While it heavily plays on the classic “buddy comedy genre” we have come to love with movies like 21 Jump Street and Rush Hour, Quiz Lady goes a step further. It’s a funny, feel-good movie that isn’t afraid to delve into deeper topics and real-life scenarios.

With stellar performances and witty one-liners, Sandra Oh and Awkwafina are the comedy duo we’ve been waiting for.

Quiz Lady is available to stream right now on Hulu.

WATCH NOW

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Karelle McKay

Assistant Editor, News And Entertainment

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