Quiz Lady (2023)

[Edgy MD]

A pair of estranged sisters, one reckless and manipulative, the other withdrawn and repressed, are forced to reunite when their mother disappears and leaves behind a gambling debt and mobsters looking to collect. Hyjinks are in order when the first sister tries to convince the latter to put her arcane knowledge to work and cover the debt by appearing on a high-pressure, big-time game show.

Oh, the hyjinks!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

this sounds pretty bad

[Edgy MD]

Well, then, perhaps the film can tempt you if I reveal that it features the final appearance by a beloved film/television/stage personality.

[Edgy MD]

Ms. Edgy and I discussed and we stand by our ranking.

[Edgy MD]

I will say this for the film — it has an off-the-charts score on the The Bechdel Test, without seeming to make a point of that.

Like Dumb and Dumber, it has a full-time comic actor teamed up with one who isn't particularly associated with comedy, but gives the latter plenty of room to work and she matches up nicely.

I find Awkwafina to be something of a trip. Part of her appeal as a film actor is that she doesn't seem to be quite comfortable on film. Her timing can be a beat off, she doesn't seem to have an intuitive sense of where the camera is, and her voice isn't modulated at the same level of the rest of the actors. Even her teeth aren't all straight. She's relatable because she seems to be failing her screen test right in front of us, but powers through anyhow. It's kind of remarkable that she starred in a Marvel film when everything about those films is tight and crisp, if nothing else.

As her character is such a poorly adjusted misfit in this film, she slots in perfectly. I guess the first part of her name is supposed to reference her awkwardness.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

So we saw this and felt it was kinda funny. Was expecting a 2.5 at best but it delivered a solid 3. (Wifey: 3.5).

I don't even remember the score or what the Bedchel Test is.

[Edgy MD]

The Bechdel Test asks (a) does a film has at least two female characters? (b) do they have a conversation with each other? and (c) do they have a conversation with each other about something other than a man? It's generally presented as singular question, though, rather than on that continuum of three questions.

Also, I confess that I tend to be a sucker for comedies that deal with the grown-up, fucked-up remains of dysfunctional families.