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Quiz Lady: An Unhelpful Review

Writer's picture: Amanda KelnerAmanda Kelner

Can’t Stop the Quiz! It’s Quiz Lady time! I’m very excited to talk about this one because, spoiler alert, I loved this movie. And I can’t wait to talk to you all about it. Granted, road trip movies are often a recipe for success but I think this had a little something more to it. So without further ado, let’s do this!


Briefly, and Without Spoilers

Awkwafina plays a curmudgeonly Anne Yum who only loves her dog, Mr. Linguini, and the game show "Can’t Stop the Quiz!" Her more erratic and spontaneous older sister, Jenny (Sandra Oh), arrives at her door when their mother, equally erratic and spontaneous, runs away from a retirement facility to Macau. 


In her wake, their mother leaves behind a substantial debt that the loan shark comes to collect. When Anne and Jenny can’t pay the debt, the loan shark takes Mr. Linguini as collateral. To save him, Jenny convinces Anne to audition for "Can’t Stop the Quiz," prompting the sisters to hit the road on a trip that forces them to confront their past conflict and learn to be family again.


Road Trip Comedy but Make it Jeopardy! (Spoilers Ahead!!!)

First and foremost, I loved this movie! It’s possibly one of my favorite films in recent cinematic history. I loved this movie so, so much. No notes. Honestly. If you were coming to read about the ways this movie was not a hit, then go somewhere else. 


We Love You, Alex Trebek


One of the things I really loved about this movie was how, even though it’s fully about the sisters, and we’ll get to that, it truly is, as some have stated, a love letter to Alex Trebek. Writer Jen D’Angelo has stated that she wanted to give homage to Trebek with Will Ferrell’s character (who of course, played Trebek during his time at SNL). 


And there’s no better moment that showcases this love letter like the bow tie scene. I have to admit, I got a little verklempt. It gave you the same feeling that we (millennials) all got when Steve from Blue’s Clues appeared to say hi on Twitter. It’s the kind of speech that makes you feel like you can do anything. That feeling of, “Everything is going to be okay, even if you don’t win.” And I think that’s the way many people feel about Trebek. He lived in millions of living rooms every weeknight for 30 minutes for decades. His demeanor was always very calming and he seemed like the kind of guy who would always make you feel welcome. 


Obviously, I know nothing about what he was really like, but even before we get into the rest of the movie, I thought this was a beautiful tribute to a cultural icon who, if nothing else, loved his job right up until the end.


Sister, Sister

Now that we’ve wiped away our tears, let’s take a moment to appreciate the heart and soul of the movie: the relationship between sisters Jenny and Anne. For this, I think you really have to give it up to the writers. Don’t get me wrong, Sandra Oh and Awkwafina were excellent in this. Funny, great chemistry, and so wonderful to watch. I think Awkwafina’s slouch deserves its own Oscar. 


But the dialog and the story made their relationship feel so natural and inviting. From all the little moments that built the tension to the reveal that Jenny’s been watching over Anne for some time, it felt like a real sibling relationship. Not always perfect, but in the end you love that person unconditionally…while also sometimes fantasizing about pushing them down the stairs. If your sibling is willing to stand on a bartop and try to get a bunch of strangers to chant your name, even if they’re a little eccentric and irresponsible, they’re worth keeping around. 


And Sundry


There are so many reasons to love this movie, even down to the details. It’s hilarious, obviously. I think that was going to be a given. But Tony Hale’s character and the Ben Franklin cosplay was so stupid and so ridiculous and so fantastic. 


The drug scene was next level. I know a lot of movies have an “I took drugs for the first time” scene, but this one had me laughing out loud, which doesn’t always happen. 


The sweating? Relatable. 


Not to mention this movie also became an homage to Paul Reubens as his last movie. So random but very funny.


Holland Taylor was fantastic, although I do kind of wish she’d been given her time in the limelight a little bit more. Jason Schwartzman has clearly perfected the role of egomaniac douche as he was great in this, too.


A Great Movie, the Best Movie

Honestly, this was an excellent movie. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend setting aside time to watch it. You will be a better person for it and you will thoroughly enjoy every minute. I feel very confident in saying this. Go watch.


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