Ever since she was a little girl, Anne has never missed an episode of “Cant Stop The Quiz” (Think “Jeopardy” with a few challenge rounds added-in). It’s quietly her dream to appear on the show, but mostly it brings her comfort to watch the show, call out the catch phrases, revel in the host’s folksy charm…oh, and get darned near every question right.
Fast-forward twenty years or so, and Anne (Awkwafina) is living a simple life of her own. It’s quiet, and perhaps a bit isolated, but it seems to suit her needs. When she gets a call that her mother has gone missing from a retirement community, she and her flighty older sister Jenny (Sandra Oh) need to get several things sorted out – like repaying eighty grand to their mom’s bookie!
Wherever are the women supposed to come up with that sort of money? It’s not like they just hand out cash like prizes to smart people…on tv…five nights a week at 7:30.
One of the things that QUIZ LADY does so well is shine the spotlight on the people in the world who like “that one thing”. They might not know who won the game last night, they don’t know Anne Klein from Calvin Klein, and no, sorry, they haven’t heard the new Olivia Rodrigo song (or the last one…or the one before). But these people in our lives all have that one thing that brings them joy.
It’s often simple, and oddly calming. Perhaps it’s doing jigsaw puzzles; perhaps it’s baking. Perhaps it’s watching a beloved program, or perhaps it’s writing about film. While QUIZ LADY dearly hopes that Anne will find her way out of her shell just a little more, it goes out of its way to underline how she and so many others like her make this world a better place just by having passions and sharing those passions with us.
The other thing that QUIZ LADY does so well is explore the way the bond between two siblings can be both complicated and strong. As time passes, relationships can become strained and baggage can accumulate. However, that doesn’t mean that the family ties are frayed or that the love is tarnished. Jenny and Anne’s adventure can often seem madcap, but underneath its zaniness is a lot of love and support.
It’s an important reminder that even though it might seem otherwise, our siblings can still surprise us by expressing their love in unexpected ways.
QUIZ LADY is a delightful trifle that takes pride in the hustle, the adoration of game show hosts, beloved pets, and sisterly bonds. It’s one thing to bring us joy – simple, calming, and amusing in all the best ways