‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ Review: David Wain’s New Comedy Disappoints

David Wain’s new film, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, clearly has a specific audience in mind, and it’s not me. Wain is known for his clever, nostalgic comedies like Wet Hot American Summer, which turns 25 this year, and he’s good at both embracing and satirizing familiar movie genres. Unfortunately, this latest effort feels messy and underdeveloped, resulting in only a few laughs and a lot of awkward moments. It quickly becomes clear that the jokes aren’t landing as well as they used to, making the film feel much longer than it is.

If you find humor in characters constantly shouting the obvious, you’ll probably enjoy this movie. However, if that doesn’t appeal to you, Wain’s film doesn’t quite let its talented cast shine. While the actors are clearly trying to be funny, the movie feels unsure of itself, making it a bit of a slog to watch.

It’s a shame that the movie Gail Daughtry, despite having the same playful and unconventional spirit as the director’s previous work, doesn’t quite succeed. Zoey Deutch stars as Gail, a woman about to get married, who discovers the idea of a “Celebrity Sex Pass”—a loophole allowing married people to sleep with their celebrity crush without upsetting their spouse. Gail immediately knows who hers is, but with her wedding approaching, actually using the pass seems impossible. Despite the film’s problems, Deutch delivers a strong performance, perfectly capturing her character’s innocence and a hint of knowingness. This performance works because she excels at the dry, self-aware humor she’s shown in films like Not Okay and The Threesome.

Gail’s life is turned upside down when she discovers her fiancé cheated on her with a famous actress who was in town for a book signing. Determined to get revenge, Gail and her friend Otto travel to Los Angeles so she can have a fling with her own celebrity crush: Jon Hamm. However, things immediately go wrong at the airport when she accidentally switches briefcases with some dangerous mobsters, who then chase her relentlessly. As she tries to pursue Hamm, Gail realizes it’s more difficult than she anticipated. While the movie’s detailed references are often funny, they might not land with viewers who aren’t familiar with the entertainment industry or Los Angeles itself.

The film features many celebrity cameos, which also seem to point out how common celebrity sightings are in Hollywood. However, these appearances quickly become predictable: Gail and her friends usually hit a problem, and then a random celebrity shows up to help them out, sometimes playing themselves. The film’s attempts at mobster themes don’t quite fit with the overall story. With so many unconventional holiday movies available, and shows like The Studio already satirizing Hollywood’s tendency to remix familiar ideas, simply labeling a film a “sexual take on The Wizard of Oz” isn’t enough to grab attention. The movie needs to be genuinely entertaining, but the director seems more focused on being provocative than on creating a compelling story.

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The strength of Gail Daughtry lies in its similarities to David Wain’s best comedies, making it a film you can enjoy repeatedly. Movies like Wet Hot American Summer and Wanderlust remain funny and deserve another watch. While not every story needs to be explored, and every idea fully realized, you’ll likely have more fun revisiting Wain’s earlier work than watching Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.

2026-02-04 22:19

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