If you're a fan of David Wain, you don't need any more convincing to watch this film. It's not his best, but certainly has the elements that any Wain fan would instantly recognize and love. For those not familiar with him, you may appreciate the film more after seeing his earlier work. It's a lot of laughs for that particular brand of humor. This one is out now.
“Smalltown hairdresser Gail Daughtry is engaged to her devoted high school sweetheart, Tom. Her life takes a turn when a trip to a book signing leads to Tom meet – and sleeping with – his “celebrity pass”. Reeling from the betrayal, Gail impulsively joins her friend Otto on a trip to Los Angeles, where a psychic convinces Gail that the only way to save her wedding is to “even the scales” with her own celebrity pass: Jon Hamm. Thus begins an epic journey through Tinseltown as Gail and Otto join forces with a talent agency assistant, a paparazzo, and actor John Slattery, all in the search for Hamm. Along the way, they collide with celebrities and are hunted by a group of Italian assassins as they get ever closer to finding the elusive star. Starring Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Ben Wang, Joe Lo Truglio, and Sabrina Impacciatore.”
David Wain has spent decades making comedies that seem to operate by their own rules. Whether its his take on summer camp movies with Wet Hot American Summer, poking fun at romantic comedies with They Came Together, or bringing his particular brand of absurdity to television with Childrens Hospital, Wain has never been especially interested in conventional comedy. His humor is often deadpan, deliberately stupid, and completely committed to a ridiculous joke long after most people would have moved on. Sometimes the joke is so absurd that the sheer audacity of it becomes funny in itself. Other times, you have to wonder what the hell you are watching. Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is very much a David Wain movie, for better and for worse.
Part of what makes Wain’s work so enjoyable is the group of actors who have been working with him for years. Many came out of the sketch comedy troupe The State, which included Wain, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, Thomas Lennon, Michael Ian Black, and others. They have continued collaborating through projects such as Wet Hot American Summer and its follow-ups, building a shared comic identity that is difficult to replicate with an entirely different group of performers. These actors understand the timing, the awkward pauses, the intentionally over-the-top reactions, and the straight-faced delivery that make Wain’s material work. They also seem completely comfortable making fools of themselves when the material calls for it. When this group gets together, there is often a feeling that they are having just as much fun making the movie as we are watching it, and that chemistry is a big reason to check out Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.
The story follows Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch), a small-town hairdresser engaged to her high school sweetheart, Tom. When Tom takes advantage of their agreement allowing each of them a celebrity hookup, Gail finds herself betrayed and determined to even the score. With her friend Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) accompanying her, she heads to Hollywood to track down her own celebrity pass, Jon Hamm. Along the way, they encounter a collection of eccentric characters, including a struggling talent agent, a paparazzo, and Mad Men star John Slattery playing a version of himself. Unfortunately for Gail and her companions, a case she accidentally acquires also puts them in the crosshairs of a group of dangerous criminals. What begins as a fairly simple romantic comedy premise quickly spirals into the sort of bizarre adventure that only Wain and his collaborators could dream up.
The film is very much a Wizard of Oz type story, as the movie is quite literally structured as a retelling. Gail’s name is a rearrangement of Dorothy Gale, she comes from Kansas, and Otto serves as her Toto. As the pair travel through Hollywood, they encounter characters who correspond to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, while Jon Hamm fills the role of the Wizard. The criminals pursuing them provide the wicked witch and her minions. The movie even opens with an image of The Wizard of Oz and closes by placing its characters alongside the icons of the characters they represent. It is a fun way to frame the entire adventure, and once the connections become clear, it gives the increasingly ridiculous plot a familiar structure.
The cast is what really sells the material. Deutch gives Gail enough sincerity and determination to make her journey work, while Ken Marino provides, for me, the some of the most laughs out of the film. The supporting cast is loaded with familiar faces, including Thomas Lennon, Michael Ian Black, Joe Lo Truglio, and Mather Zickel. Then there are the cameos, with a number of recognizable actors and personalities showing up to participate in Wain’s madness, and not for any particularly good reason, which is in itself hilarious. Seeing so many people come out to support the filmmaker is part of the fun, and fans of his previous work will appreciate just how many familiar faces turn up along the way.
Of course, this kind of comedy is not going to work for everyone. Wain has always been willing to let a joke run well past the point where another filmmaker would cut away, and Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is no exception. If you’re familiar with the humor, the commitment to such a ridiculous bit can be hilarious. If you aren’t, you may be sitting there wondering when the scene is finally going to end.
Video
The Blu-ray presents the film in 1080p widescreen at 2.39:1. The picture is clean and detailed, and the presentation suits the movie’s colorful Hollywood setting. The image maintains a consistent, polished appearance throughout, allowing the production design, costumes, and various locations to come through nicely. There is nothing particularly elaborate about the visual presentation, but the transfer does its job well and provides a solid high-definition presentation of the film.
Audio
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers clear dialogue and makes good use of the surround channels to establish the atmosphere of the various locations.
Special Features
No special features on this disc, unfortunately.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is a strange, silly, and entertaining comedy that should appeal to anyone who appreciates David Wain’s particular brand of humor. The cast does a great job with the material, and the parade of cameos makes this feel like a gathering of friends who have spent years building a shared comic language. There are plenty of laughs to be found, even if some of the jokes go on too long or simply fail to land.
If you love David Wain, you’ll probably have a blast with this movie. If you’ve never heard of him or aren’t familiar with his previous work like Wet Hot American Summer, you may find yourself scratching your head at some of the more outlandish moments. This isn’t his best film, but it is another example of a filmmaker sticking to his own comedic vision and bringing a group of talented, familiar performers along for the ride. This one is out now.
AV Entertainment provided us with a copy of this disc for review, which if interested, you can pre-purchase here.
