by Henry Pham
Set in Willowbrook, Kansas, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass follows Gail Daughtry, a young hairdresser engaged to her high school sweetheart, Tom. After Tom uses his “celebrity sex pass” at a book signing, Gail feels betrayed and travels to Los Angeles with her friend Otto. There, a psychic tells Gail that to save her relationship, she must use her own celebrity pass with actor Jon Hamm, prompting a comedic journey through Hollywood. Gail and Otto team up with talent agency assistant Caleb, paparazzo Vincent, and actor John Slattery in their search for Hamm. Along the way, they encounter celebrities and are pursued by Italian assassins seeking the briefcase that was mistakenly swapped with Gail.
Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague) delivers a standout comedic performance as Gail Daughtry. Her character references Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz, a theme that shapes the film’s narrative. Deutch brings both humor and depth to the role of a Kansas resident seeking to even the score with her boyfriend, Tom (Michael Cassidy, TBS’s Men at Work), as she navigates Hollywood in pursuit of her celebrity wish. Her portrayal establishes Deutch as a leading actress this year, and she has recently appeared in Minions & Monsters. The supporting cast — including Miles Gutierrez-Riley (Smile 2), John Slattery (AMC’s Mad Men), Ken Marino (Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp), Ben Wang (Karate Kid: Legends), Sabrina Impacciatore (HBO’s The White Lotus), and Jon Hamm (AMC’s Mad Men) — further enrich the film’s comedic and emotional impact.
David Wain is the director of the film, with Ken Marino co-writing the script and portraying a paparazzo named Vincent. Together, they have crafted a laugh-out-loud adventure that involves meeting one’s favorite celebrity (in this case, Gail meeting the fictionalized version of Jon Hamm). The plot offers some fun questions about fame, desire, and the modern economy of attention. The script relies on comedy and slapstick themes. The Easter eggs, Hollywood cameos, and The Wizard of Oz references infuse the absurdity and engender celebrity culture. The fight scenes also add humor, though some younger audiences may find them gruesome. The slow pacing is present in the first act, but it picks up speed afterwards.
I was reluctant to watch this as I believed the movie would be terrible. It turns out, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass deliberately stand on its own ground in the comedy genre. The entire cast is great, but Deutch anchors the film with comedy and determination. It is boldly good, if not perfect. Whether or not you are into comedy movies, it’s a rare triumph and a must-watch. I’m not kidding; you definitely need to watch this. With the film’s runtime clocking in at 94 minutes, Zoey Deutch comically delivers in Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. One more thing, just for funsies, in case you’re asking who I can get for my “celebrity sex pass,” my easy answer would be actress Heather Locklear (my celebrity crush).
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