By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
“The Wizard of Oz” gets modernized and sexualized with an “Airplane!” treatment…and it works! “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” embraces its silliness to become one of the funniest and most memorable comedies this year. The story, acting, and gags are all over-the-top with a self-aware, self-deprecating sense of humor that most should enjoy.
When her fiancé Tom (Michael Cassidy) cashes in on his celebrity sex pass, Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch) escapes her suburban life as a simple hairdresser in Kansas to pursue her own celebrity crush, Jon Hamm (Jon Hamm). She arrives in Hollywood with her best friend, Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), who helps her overcome her naivete on her sexual quest. Along the way, they pick up some companions with their own aligned missions like the quirky photojournalist Vincent (Ken Marino), the talent agency intern Caleb (Ben Wang), and Jon Hamm’s former co-star John Slattery (John Slattery). Looking to stop Gail and her newfound friends from fulfilling their quest is Ludovica (Sabrina Impacciatore), the wicked crime boss whose briefcase of secret documents fell into Gail’s hands.
David Wain is an experienced comedic director, who has helmed some fan favorite films like “Wet Hot American Summer” in 2001 and “Role Models” in 2008. This time, his choice to parody “The Wizard of Oz” is possibly his riskiest yet, but he does it with clever intention that yields high entertainment value without insulting the source material. The references are subtle at first, but as the film progresses, the similarities between the characters and flow of the story arc click into place, making the punchlines hit harder as viewers draw the correlation between this modern trip down “the yellow brick road” and the classic 1939 version. Even though this is inspired by that beloved family film, Wain incorporates surprising originality to bring an adult-driven sense of humor to a modernized version of the story.
Sure, this movie is littered with dumb ridiculousness, but the absurdity is delivered with a deadpan approach that makes this satirical farce crack through audiences’ highbrow resolve. Wain’s intentions are very clear: to turn every single scene into an opportunity for humor, and he succeeds from start to finish. He’s like a trigger-happy gunslinger with a rapid-fire delivery of comedy that barely allows for a breath between bouts of laughter. In fact, it is easy to miss some of the jokes amidst the cacophony of hilarity in a packed theater. Now this brand of comedy, being the highly subjective form of entertainment that it is, is not for everyone and could alienate those who don’t appreciate over-the-top parody.
This is a cast with a healthy sense of humility, especially John Slattery and Jon Hamm, who play exaggerated versions of themselves to great effect. Zoey Deutch channels her inner Dorothy with that charming innocence and gullibility while amusingly turning a sexual fantasy into a full-blown mission. Miles Gutierrez-Riley perfectly balances her character by consistently adding a dose of reality check, sometimes under his breath, almost as if he’s sharing an inside joke with the audience. Tobie Windham is an absolute scene stealer as Jon Hamm’s bodyguard, who persistently threatens to make the main characters “sick” in such a serious tone that elicits hearty laughter every time. Then there’s Fred Melamed, who portrays the narrator of this story as a mailman perturbed at having to dumb down plot points for an audience he assumes is not paying attention. There’s even a number of cameos from various celebrities that will tickle viewers’ attention.
Grab a group of like-minded friends who enjoy parodies like “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” and go see this adult targeted comedy in theaters. It may be overlooked amidst the other summer blockbusters with more marketing dollars, but “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is that under-the-radar July release that will leave your cheeks sore from the nonstop laughter. It is even likely you will find an excuse to see it multiple times for its ingenuity and unapologetically memorable sense of humor.
This movie earns:
