Quiz Lady

Last updated

Quiz Lady
Quiz lady poster.png
Release poster
Directed by Jessica Yu
Written byJen D'Angelo
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAdrian Peng Correia
Edited by
Music by Nick Urata
Production
companies
Distributed by Hulu
Release dates
  • September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09)(TIFF)
  • November 3, 2023 (2023-11-03)(United States)
Running time
99 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$23.8 million [2]

Quiz Lady is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Jessica Yu and written by Jen D'Angelo. The film stars Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jon "Dumbfoundead" Park, and Will Ferrell. Ferrell, Awkwafina, and Oh also served as the film's producers, along with Jessica Elbaum, Maggie Haskins, Itay Reiss, and D'Angelo.

Contents

Quiz Lady premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023, and was released by 20th Century Studios via Hulu in the United States on November 3, 2023.

Plot

Anne, a tightly wound, game show-obsessed young woman, receives a call notifying her that her gambling addict mother has fled to Macau. This news reunites her with her estranged and reckless older sister, Jenny. Jenny, who had previously been living in her car, temporarily moves in with Anne. One night while Anne is watching her favorite game show, Can't Stop the Quiz, Jenny secretly records Anne answering every question at remarkable speed and uploads it online. The video goes viral overnight, drawing the attention of a loan shark to whom Anne and Jenny's mother owes $80,000. Tracking down Anne, he demands that she pay off her mother's debt and informs her that he has kidnapped her pet dog, Mr. Linguini, as ransom. Anne blames Jenny for the mishap and asks her to use money she won from a lawsuit against a restaurant chain to pay the ransom; however, Jenny reveals she lied about winning the case and that she cannot pay off the debt. Instead, she encourages Anne—whose video gained the attention of Can't Stop the Quiz casting directors—to go on the show and win enough money to get Mr. Linguini back.

Prior to the audition for the show, Jenny dislocates her wrist at a bar. While waiting at the doctors office and reminiscing about old times, Anne admits to defecating into a hole when staying at their cousins' house in Burbank one summer when they were younger, due to her being too uncomfortable and unwelcome to do so inside the house. Jenny comforts her, saying that the cousins never liked their side of the family anyway, claiming it to be the reason why they never stayed with them again. During the audition, Anne, initially nervous about being in front of a crowd of people, tries to leave before it begins, but Jenny gives her some calming pills that are later revealed to be hallucinogens. After being given other pills to calm the effects of the first one, Anne does well at the audition, impressing the crowd and the producers.

The next morning, Jenny congratulates Anne and reveals to her that this was all part of her plan to become a self-described life coach, stating that she lied about lying and really did have a large check coming in from her lawsuit and she tricked Anne because she knew that she would not have gone on the show without her thinking she had no other choice. Angered, Anne insults Jenny, to which the latter retaliates saying that she was the one that has always been looking out for her, bringing up the time when Anne defecated into the hole, revealing she did not dig the hole deep enough and the other cousins found it. Jenny covered for Anne, telling them that she was the one to do it and this was the reason they never allowed Jenny, Anne, and their mother to stay with them again.

Anne returns home and her cantankerous neighbor, Francine, invites her into her home for a cup of tea. Francine tells Anne that she has lived a long time and that worrying about and trying to get other people to like you is a waste of time. Anne receives a call saying that she has been invited to go onto Can't Stop the Quiz, and decides to go on the show with Francine as her partner. Meanwhile, Jenny negotiates with the loan sharks and eventually steals Mr. Linguini back. Anne shows strong disdain for Ron, the long-running returning champion on Can't Stop the Quiz, and finishes a distant second to him after the first round. When Jenny shows up with Mr. Linguini, she reconciles with and convinces Anne to finish the game, and persuades the producers to let Anne have the dog with her to calm her. After the second round, Anne is closely behind Ron. When the third round is chosen to be a game of charades, Anne switches partners and plays with Jenny instead of Francine. On the winning word, they share a heartfelt moment as Anne admits to Jenny that she is her hero.

Anne wins the game, and goes on to win 93 consecutive games, holding the record for longest streak. She is later hired as a writer on the show. Jenny's check comes in from her lawsuit and the two of them pay off their mother's debts. Jenny also purchases a Malibu mansion where Anne and Jenny now live together.

Cast

Production

In October 2020, it was announced that an untitled comedy film was in development at Netflix, with Jen D'Angelo writing the screenplay, and Sandra Oh and Awkwafina starring. [4] In December 2021, Netflix reportedly left the film, and the rights were acquired by 20th Century Studios. Jessica Yu was also set to direct. [5] Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum were to produce the film under their Gloria Sanchez Productions banner with Artists First; Alex Brown served as an executive producer. Sarah Shepard oversaw the film for 20th Century.

Principal photography began on June 7, 2022, and was expected to last until July 22 of that year, with filming taking place in Los Angeles and New Orleans. [6] By the beginning of production, Holland Taylor, Jason Schwartzman, Tony Hale, and Ferrell were revealed to star in the film. [7] On September 9, 2023, it was revealed that actor Paul Reubens (who died on July 30, 2023) would posthumously appear as himself in a cameo. [3]

Release

In June 2022, the film was reported to be scheduled for release by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu original film in the United States, It premiered on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in other territories the same day. [7] [8] In July 2023, the film's title was revealed to be Quiz Lady, with a release date of November 3, 2023. [9] The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. [10] [1]

Reception

Audience viewership

According to Whip Media's viewership tracking app TV Time, Quiz Lady was the fourth most streamed film across all platforms in the United States during the week of November 3, 2023, [11] and the fifth during the week of November 13, 2023. [12]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 81% of 90 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10.The website's 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." [13] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [14]

Accolades

Quiz Lady won Best Movie Made for Television at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards. [15] [16] It was nominated for Best Streamed or Televised Movie at the 2024 Producers Guild of America Awards. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Ferrell</span> American actor, comedian, and producer (born 1967)

John William Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Ferrell is known for his leading man roles in comedy films and for his work as a television producer. He has earned five Emmy Awards and in 2011 was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2015, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named the best comedian in British GQ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandra Oh</span> Canadian and American actress (born 1971)

Sandra Miju Oh is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in the HBO comedy series Arliss (1996–2002), Dr. Cristina Yang in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy (2005–2014), and Eve Polastri in the BBC America spy thriller series Killing Eve (2018–2022). She has received two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2019, Time magazine named Oh one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molly Shannon</span> American actress and comedian (born 1964)

Molly Helen Shannon is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. In February 2017, she won the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Other People.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zooey Deschanel</span> American actress and musician (born 1980)

Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress and musician. She made her film debut in Mumford (1999) and had a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous (2000). Deschanel is known for her deadpan roles in comedy films such as The Good Girl (2002), The New Guy (2002), Elf (2003), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), Yes Man (2008), The Happening (2008), 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Our Idiot Brother (2011). She has also ventured into dramatic film territory with Manic (2001), All the Real Girls (2003), Winter Passing (2005), Bridge to Terabithia (2007) and The Driftless Area (2015). From 2011 to 2018, she starred as Jess Day on the Fox sitcom New Girl, for which she received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.

<i>Bewitched</i> (2005 film) 2005 American film

Bewitched is a 2005 American fantasy romantic comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by Nora Ephron, and starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell alongside an ensemble cast featuring Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, Heather Burns, Jim Turner, Stephen Colbert, David Alan Grier, Michael Badalucco, Carole Shelley, and Steve Carell. The film follows an actor (Ferrell) who discovers, during the remake of Bewitched, that his co-star (Kidman) is an actual witch.

<i>The Other Guys</i> 2010 buddy cop action comedy film by Adam McKay

The Other Guys is a 2010 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Adam McKay, who co-wrote it with Chris Henchy. It stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg with Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Applegate</span> American actress (born 1971)

Christina Applegate is an American actress. After appearing in several roles since early childhood, she gained recognition for starring as Kelly Bundy in the comedy sitcom Married... with Children (1987–1997). Applegate established a successful film and television career in her adult years, winning a Primetime Emmy Award as well as gaining nominations for four Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbfoundead</span> American rapper from California (born 1986)

Jonathan Edgar Park, known by his stage name Dumbfoundead, is an Argentinian-born American rapper. He began his career in the 2000s as a battle rapper in Los Angeles and has since become one of the most prominent East Asian American rappers, known for his witty and socially conscious lyrics.

<i>Casa de mi padre</i> 2012 Spanish-language American comedy film by Matt Piedmont

Casa de mi padre is a 2012 Spanish-language American Western comedy film directed by Matt Piedmont, written by Harper Steele, and starring Will Ferrell, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Génesis Rodríguez. It was described to be in the style of an "overly dramatic 1970s telenovela" and tells the story of Armando Álvarez, who must save his father's ranch from a powerful drug lord. Casa de mi padre was released on March 16, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awkwafina</span> American actress and rapper (born 1988)

Nora Lum, known professionally as Awkwafina, is an American actress, rapper, and comedian. She rose to prominence in 2012 when her rap song "My Vag" became popular on YouTube. She then released her debut album, Yellow Ranger (2014), and appeared on the MTV comedy series Girl Code (2014–2015). She expanded to films with supporting roles in the comedies Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Ocean's 8 (2018), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). For her starring role as a grieving young woman in The Farewell (2019), she won a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Ferrell filmography</span>

The following is the filmography of American actor, comedian, producer and writer Will Ferrell.

<i>Dead to Me</i> (TV series) American dark comedy television series

Dead to Me was an American black comedy-drama television series that stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as two grieving women who bond during therapy. It was created by Liz Feldman and executive produced by Feldman, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Jessica Elbaum. The series premiered on May 3, 2019, on Netflix and received positive reviews. In June 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season which was released on May 8, 2020. At the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, Applegate received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Sanchez Productions</span> American film production company

Gloria Sanchez Productions is an American film and television production company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Elbaum</span> American film producer

Jessica Elbaum is an American producer. She is best known for co-founding the production company Gloria Sanchez Productions with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay in 2014. She has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and won "Best First Feature" at the 36th Independent Spirit Awards for producing the film Booksmart.

<i>Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens</i> American comedy television series

Awkwafina is Nora from Queens is an American television sitcom starring Awkwafina that first aired on January 20, 2020, on Comedy Central. The series was renewed for a second season before the series premiere, and received generally favorable reviews from critics. The second season premiered on August 18, 2021. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on April 26, 2023.

Bowen Yang is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, and writer. Yang was hired to join the writing staff of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in September 2018, ahead of its 44th season, and a year later was promoted to on-air cast status for SNL's 45th season, becoming its first Chinese-American, third openly gay male, and fourth-ever cast member of Asian descent. He made history becoming the first SNL featured player to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2021. He was promoted to repertory status before the 47th season. He co-hosts a comedy pop-culture podcast, Las Culturistas, with Matt Rogers.

Minhal Baig is an American director, producer, and writer from Chicago, Illinois. She has written and directed three films, 1 Night, Hala and We Grown Now, and written for the television shows Ramy and Bojack Horseman.

<i>Am I OK?</i> 2022 American drama film

Am I OK? is a 2022 American comedy-drama film directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne and written by Lauren Pomerantz. It stars Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Tig Notaro, and Sean Hayes.

You're Cordially Invited is an upcoming American comedy film written and directed by Nicholas Stoller for Amazon MGM Studios. It stars Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan and Meredith Hagner.

References

  1. 1 2 "Quiz Lady". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Untitled Sisters Project" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. June 8, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Yamato, Jen (September 10, 2023). "Paul Reubens makes final film appearance in Awkwafina, Sandra Oh comedy 'Quiz Lady'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (October 29, 2020). "Sandra Oh, Awkwafina Team For Netflix Sister Comedy Movie; Jessica Elbaum & Will Ferrell Producing". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (December 15, 2021). "20th Century Lands Untitled Comedy Starring Awkwafina And Sandra Oh". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ Darwish, Meaghan (June 7, 2022). "Sandra Oh & Awkwafina Hulu Original Sister Comedy Begins Production". TV Insider . Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Remley, Hilary (June 7, 2022). "Awkwafina and Sandra Oh's Estranged Sisters Movie Begins Production". Collider . Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ Gelman, Vlada (June 7, 2022). "TVLine Items: Girls Vet Joins Bomer Series, Tony Awards Talent and More". TVLine . Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ Wang, Jessica (July 13, 2023). "Awkwafina, Sandra Oh are estranged sisters in 'Quiz Lady' first look". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (August 10, 2023). "Jenna Ortega's Finestkind, Dakota Johnson's Daddio Added to Toronto Film Fest Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ↑ Prange, Stephanie (November 7, 2023). "'Five Nights at Freddy's,' 'Loki' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News . Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  12. ↑ Prange, Stephanie (November 14, 2023). "'The Killer,' 'Loki' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News . Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Quiz Lady". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 3, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  14. ↑ "Quiz Lady". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (January 14, 2024). "'Oppenheimer,' 'Barbie,' 'The Bear' lead 2024 Critics Choice Awards winners". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (January 14, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Leads Critics Choice Awards With 8 Wins, 'Barbie' Scores 6 — Full Winners List". Variety . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  17. ↑ Verhoeven, Beatrice (January 12, 2024). "'Oppenheimer,' 'The Crown' Among 2024 Producers Guild Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.