If you couldn’t tell by the title of the movie, or the ridiculous movie poster boasting Zoey Deutch amongst other familiar faces, David Wain’s latest film Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass might be one of the silliest films of the year, and I mean that with the utmost admiration. Told in a narrative that spoofs off of the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz, the film follows Gail, who travels to Hollywood in search of her celebrity hall pass to seal the deal after her fiancé used his. The film is ridiculous, but it goes all in, bringing absurd and silly cinema back to the big screen.
Gail comes from a small town, and is in love with her long time fiancé Tom. After deciding that they each get one celebrity hall pass – an exception within a relationship where both partners agree that the other can sleep with their agreed upon celebrity if the opportunity ever arises – Tom actually uses his. Shocked that their agreement was real for him, Gail sets out with her best friend Otto to Hollywood, in search of her chosen celebrity to even the score with her fiance, so they can get married with a clean slate. While trying to track this celebrity down, the two encounter a host of quirky new friends who help them on their journey to get Gail laid.
It’s a cute concept for a movie that becomes even better with its references to the beloved The Wizard of Oz. A story of self discovery and searching for belonging on a journey away from home, it is funny to think of these themes also being relevant to the story of Gail Daughtry, on the search for sex. With her name as a play on Dorothy Gale, Gail too travels with her beloved friend Otto, her Toto, to a far away place where she must discover her own self identity after never leaving her small town, even with her own pair of sparking ruby red shoes. Factoring in the fact that Gail’s journey has a destination of sex with a celebrity, Gail’s wizard, in order to return home, it is quite a silly concept that surprisingly works well.
Along the journey, Gail, like Dorothy, encounters a group of misfits who feel they lack the brains, the heart, and the courage they need to succeed on their paths in Hollywood. This group of five who venture through the city together have really great comedic chemistry, and jokes between the group always feel fresh and never repetitive.
Zoey Deutch in the central role is as charming as ever, as she continues to take these quirky roles we have come to expect her in. She leads the crew with a lot of comedy but also a lot of heart, and is a gem to watch in these silly modern films that still have something to say, barely, even amidst the chaos.
The film does a great job at satirizing what modern Hollywood has become. The difficulties in the process of getting movies made and obsessive fan culture are all prevalent in the film, and made fun in a tasteful way. By no means do I think the film aims to make change in the industry, nor to make any real lasting impact on the direction the film industry has gone in, but it takes all these ridiculous aspects of the Hollywood it takes place in, exaggerates them, and turns them in to a wildly silly ride for Gail and her friends.
It is a cute film in the way that it also seems to touch on every genre of film we love in Hollywood. The classic in its The Wizard of Oz plot, with aspects of romance, comedy, drama, action, and somehow even some scenes that are truly giving a western vibe. A film that is so entrenched in Hollywood and references to it and its players, it pays homage to the genres we know as much as it satirizes them.
The film also cannot be discussed without touching on the pure abundance of celebrity cameos in the film. Already 5 minutes into the film I was left questioning how huge the budget had to be for the film, or how so many actors simply seemed keen to work with director David Wain. Either way, it is 90-minutes of a who’s who in Hollywood, as new players are introduced on Gail’s journey through the star capital itself.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is not here to change the current state of Hollywood, although it just might with its overflowing love for all things silly and ridiculous that are sadly missing in the films of today. The film knows what it is, and commits to the bit fully, providing a hilarious spoof of the beloved The Wizard of Oz that will be appreciated by all fans of stupid, silly comedy, and Zoey Deutch’s insane (complimentary) film choices.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass will be released in Canada on July 10. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
