I fully understand that comedy is subjective, and what one person finds hysterical may be entirely cringey for another. For me, a film like Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is exactly what I want from a comedy. I am looking for something ambitious, unapologetically dumb, and relentlessly fun. David Wain and Ken Marino are two of my all-time favorite comedic writers, directors, actors, and producers. These guys are fucking hysterical, and what I admire most is that almost every project they take on feels entirely different from the last. I grew up watching The State and Kids in the Hall, two comedy troupes that fundamentally shaped my love of the genre. Their work was weird, fearless, and wildly creative. I laughed my ass off watching their work.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is the kind of comedy we rarely see made anymore. Yes, the film is incredibly stupid, but in the best possible way. The writing is razor-sharp, and the performances are genuinely next-level. Somewhere along the way, we seem to have forgotten that fully committing to absurdity is just as impressive as committing to serious drama. In many ways, comedy is even harder because you either commit to the world and the character, or the entire thing collapses.
Zoey Deutch completely commits to the role of Gail, embracing a relentlessly upbeat, happy-go-lucky persona that fits perfectly within the heightened, cartoon-like universe crafted by David Wain and Ken Marino. She has to stay perky, earnest, and fully committed at every turn because that is who this character is, and she absolutely nails it.
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It also brought me so much joy to watch an iconic dramatic actor like John Slattery not only play himself, but also a wildly heightened, gloriously ridiculous version that fits seamlessly into this world. While the film ultimately rests on Zoey Deutch’s shoulders, Slattery, along with the rest of the ensemble, is crucial to its success. Everyone involved clearly understood the assignment and had no hesitation in fully committing to the sheer ridiculousness of the material.
The main ensemble includes Ben Wang, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, and Ken Marino, all of whom are entirely on board with the film’s absurd mission to help Gail track down Jon Hamm so she can have sex with him before tying the knot.
I also need to mention, without spoiling anything, that the film is packed with genuinely hilarious cameos. You can immediately tell how beloved Wain and Marino are in the industry by the number of familiar faces who pop up throughout the film. The cameos never feel distracting and instead add to the fun. Many of them are so random that you cannot help but laugh or smile the moment they appear on screen.
When it comes to pure comedic gold, I do not think there will be a funnier film this year than Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. When I say there is a joke every minute, I am not exaggerating. The laughs are nonstop, and I genuinely cannot remember the last time I laughed this hard in a movie theater. While last year’s The Naked Gun remake was pretty damn hysterical, this film is even funnier, with jokes that hit faster and harder. It operates on the same level as the best work from Mel Brooks or the Zucker Brothers, feeling like a full-blown Hollywood parody where everyone in the film is in on the joke.
There were multiple moments when I laughed uncontrollably, particularly the ending, which is so absurd that I couldn’t stop laughing. One standout bit involves Gail and Otto checking into a hotel, only to be handed a Hollywood tourist map to explore the city while they wait. I will not spoil the gag, but the way it unfolds is genuinely fucking funny. Mentioning that sequence also reminded me of the whole CAA bit, which is a very industry-specific joke, yet it played like gangbusters with the Sundance audience because everyone knew exactly what it was.
Zoey Deutch joked during the Q&A that she had signed on for an eleven-picture deal with David Wain and Ken Marino, and honestly, I would love to see that happen. I have been a long-time admirer of Zoey Deutch. While I believe her portrayal of Jean Seberg in Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague is her strongest dramatic work to date, her performance as Gail Daughtry is hands down the funniest of her career.
This role allows Deutch to take full command of the screen, showcasing her ability to be over the top funny. I would genuinely love to see her continue to headline comedies like this, roles that fully embrace her comedic instincts and let her shine alongside a slew of Hollywood icons.
All in all, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass was a ridiculously fun and endlessly entertaining experience. I love watching comedies with a crowd, so seeing the film at a sold-out screening at the Eccles Theatre was an absolute treat. I truly hope the film lands a theatrical distribution deal, because movies like this are meant to be seen with an audience. You cannot fully appreciate the gags without people around you reacting in real time.
The collective laughter genuinely enhances the experience, and comedies this sharp and silly deserve to be enjoyed communally. This is the kind of film best experienced with like-minded moviegoers who want to sit back, relax, and laugh their asses off together. I cannot recommend this film enough.
Scott Menzel’s rating for Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is a 9 out of 10
