Esteemed comedic director David Wain makes a return to Sundance with Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, his fifth feature film, to premiere at the Festival. Wain also pens the film’s screenplay with longtime collaborator Ken Marino.
Gail Daughty (Zoey Deutch) is a quirky hairdresser from the Midwest engaged to her high school sweetheart (Michael Cassidy). One day at the shop, her bestie and fellow hairdresser, Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), brings up the “celebrity sex pass” to one of the clients, and Gail reveals that hers is Jon Hamm.
Later that day, Gail and her fiancée, while on their way to attend a book signing by a famous TV actress-turned-author (which I won’t spoil), discuss the sex pass between them. At the signing, Gail’s fiancée ends up sleeping with the actress, prompting Gail to head to Los Angeles to even the score by having sex with Jon Hamm.
Upon arriving in the City of Angels, Gail meets a variety of characters, including Caleb (Ben Wang), photographer Vincent (Ken Marino), and John Slattery’s hyper fictionalized version of himself, who all assist in the journey to hook up with Jon Hamm.
From the moment legendary voice-over actor Fred Melamed begins narrating the film, you’re in for a treat. I’ve been a fan of Wain’s style of comedy since You Wrote It, You Watch It, so walking into the film, I knew what to expect. Dare I say that my expectations were subdued, and Wain has crafted a laugh-out-loud movie that delivers jokes nonstop.
The rom-com tropes in Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass are evident from the gay best friend to the loser romantic interest to the lovable. However, what Wain and Marino’s script accomplishes is a blend that becomes a self-aware R-rated version of The Wizard of Oz. Steering the ship is the always enjoyable Zoey Deutch.
Deutch portrays Gail as a brightly feminine character who is underestimated yet quietly subversive beneath her wholesome charm. This dynamic works well in her interactions with the rest of the cast, all of whom have their moments to shine. One standout performance comes from Ben Wang, who continues to impress as he explores different genres.
Longtime fans of Wain will also appreciate the numerous cameos from his famous friends, while fans of Hollywood will have a hoot at the inside jokes. At its core, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is a screwball comedy that only wants to entertain its adult audience and isn’t afraid to push the envelope.
