While this year’s box office has been dominated by creative indie horror films and several high-octane adrenaline action thrill-rides, the minds behind Wet Hot American Summer are back with Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, a light-hearted comedy that dips its toes into the pool of the absurd, instead of diving into the deep end like many of David Wain’s previous works. While swimming in those waters is a personal preference, this summer comedy is the writer/directors most crowd-pleasing picture yet.
Gail’s (Zoey Deutch) story begins in a picturesque suburb weeks before her wedding to her high-school sweetheart. After the couple jokes around about which celebrity they’d each want a pass to sleep with, her fiancé accomplishes his affair, which leaves Gail heartbroken. In order to make things right, Gail and her best friend Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) go on a trip to Hollywood, where she figures out what she must do in order to make things right: she must sleep with her own celebrity pass, Jon Hamm.
Almost as soon as Gail and Otto arrive in LA, the celebrity cameos and unexpected dangers begin, leading into an often not-so-subtle rendition of The Wizard of Oz. Their pursuit to find Jon Hamm and his penis leads to several different Hollywood locations that often add another party member to Gail’s quest until she’s travelling around with a posse with a particular set of skills, all with their own reasons for pursuing the universally handsome actor. And like most of Wain’s works, the supporting cast successfully elevates the narrative in many ways.
“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass does a fantastic job of maintaining its comedic tone in a world where everyone is a little weird…”
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is stuffed with cast members who also helped make The State and Wet Hot American Summer so memorable, as well as some surprising additions that should not be spoiled. Common collaborators like Joe Lo Truglio, John Slattery, and Ken Marino, who also co-wrote the movie with Wain, help provide some of the movie’s best laughs, at least when Ben Wang isn’t stealing scenes as the group’s smooth-talking Caleb. Thankfully, additional cameos are introduced in a way that absolutely works with the film’s plot, rather than feeling cheap and shallow.
Zoey Deutch is a comedic breakout as the film’s lead, with a performance that manages to balance the varying and chaotic personalities she meets with a vibe of sincerity and empathy that makes her easy to root for. Without spoiling too much of the movie, Gail and her friends get mixed up in a series of wacky and sometimes intense situations that continuously mix up expectations. While there are deadly chases and bloody battles in the movie, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass does a fantastic job of maintaining its comedic tone in a world where everyone is a little weird, rather than having a sane character in a weird world or vice versa.
After their briefcases are accidentally swapped at the airport, Gail and her friends are pursued by Ludovica (Sabrina Impacciatore) and her goons. While the antagonist accomplishes the movie’s need for an intimidating villain, Impacciatore doesn’t distract from the movie’s comedic tone by providing a character that feels more like a cartoon villain. This is an impressive feat of maintaining even while she is actively doing great harm to the subordinates who have disappointed her, which continues to keep the movie fun, even when it moves away from Gail’s quest.
Within the one hour and 33-minute runtime, each member of Gail’s group gets time to shine in a movie that doesn’t feel too overstuffed with side plots but is focused on the team’s goal of finding Jon Hamm. With such a packed cast, the film does a surprisingly great job of allowing each of its stars to get impactful moments, but in doing so, it sacrifices depth in character dynamics that would have helped each character feel more unique in the movie’s world of lightly absurd characters.
Actors John Slattery and Jon Hamm play highly exaggerated versions of themselves in roles that prove that they are able to make fun of themselves, which feels refreshing in a time when so many thin-skinned people refuse to get out of society’s limelight. The filmmaker’s honed skill of delivering an adventure that never takes itself too seriously carries the movie all the way up to its satisfying conclusion in a comedy that’s easily rewatchable and the perfect comedic choice to watch with friends.
Its killer cast, consistent comedic tone, and clever writing help make Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass one of the best feel-good comedies of the summer. While fans of David Wain and Ken Marino’s brand of comedy will be overjoyed by the pair’s strong return to the big screen, the movie manages to find a balance that doesn’t nudge too far into the aggressively absurd humour that can sometimes push potential audiences away.
