In the realm of screwball comedies, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass stands out as a delightful romp through Hollywood’s absurdity. Directed by David Wain this film takes viewers on a journey with Gail Daughtry a small-town girl who finds herself in the midst of a celebrity culture she barely understands.
The story begins with Gail and her fiancé, Tom on the brink of their wedding. When Tom uses his celebrity free pass to sleep with Jennifer Aniston Gail decides to even the score by seducing her own celebrity crush, Jon Hamm. Accompanied by her best friend Otto Gail embarks on a wild adventure through Los Angeles, encountering a cast of eccentric characters along the way.
The Wizard of Oz Meets Hollywood Absurdity
Wain cleverly structures the film around The Wizard of Oz with Gail and Otto skipping along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, aided by a humbled paparazzo, a quick-talking CAA agent-in-training, and a scumbag version of John Slattery playing a has-been actor. The film’s charm lies in its ability to cram in so many jokes that it’s hard to spoil a thing.
One of the film’s standout moments comes when a goon gives up pursuing Gail after half a block, wheezing, “Stop… running… I’m… tired!” This throwaway giggle exemplifies the film’s ability to undermine formulaic capers with clever ideas.
Zoey Deutch Shines as the Plucky Gail
Zoey Deutch is perfectly cast as Gail, committing to her quest with such gumption that she jumps on a hotel mattress like a little kid. Deutch’s screen presence has evolved since her first lead role in Vampire Academy and her anachronistic appeal is especially good in films like Gail Daughtry that crank reality up a notch.
The film’s allusions to The Wizard of Oz get contradictory and distracting at times, but cinematographer Kevin Atkinson alludes to the dusty Kansas prairie with a shot of a beige strip mall. The tourism board should study how Wain sells a tacky California vacation, with Hollywood Boulevard looking fetchingly sleazy.
The Cult of Celebrity
The film stops several yellow bricks short of erecting a temple to the sacrifices of fame. Yet, you hear a kernel of truth when Gail and the gang break into the mansion of Weird Al Yankovic who yells, “You people think just because you bought a ticket to one of my concerts that you have the right to invade my sanctuary?”
Unlike Dorothy, Gail’s lust for life proves too big for her small town. Gail Daughtry is less about sex and personal empowerment than the cult of celebrity. Here, every level of notoriety comes with its own awkward perils: Henry Winkler is mistaken for John TravoltaElizabeth Perkins is spotted driving a taxi, and Slattery tries to curry favor with a desk clerk who recognizes him from Mad Men but doesn’t care.
The film’s commitment to absurdity is impressive, with no idea too dumb to explore. Even when the jokes don’t land, there is still a kind of joy in it all. The only thing this movie takes seriously is its wholehearted commitment to absurdity.
