---
title: "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass"
fi1m_id: "gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass"
imdb_id: "tt36834010"
tmdb_id: 1476682
wikidata_id: "Q137356279"
fi1m_score: 68
critics_score: 68
critics_reviews: 16
published: "2026-10-25"
updated: "2026-10-25T10:20:49.516127+00:00"
region: "AE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026)

Directed by David Wain · 1h 34m · Comedy

## Identity

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass
- **IMDb ID:** tt36834010
- **TMDB ID:** 1476682
- **Wikidata ID:** Q137356279
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36834010/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1476682, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137356279

**Fi1m score: 68** · Critics 68 from 16 reviews

*In a sentence:* John Slattery has the right idea about celebrity dignity: make yourself useful by losing it

> David Wain’s celebrity comedy gets by on Zoey Deutch’s warmth and John Slattery’s willingness to look ridiculous. There are laughs worth having, but the sprawling cast and overextended routines make 94 minutes feel less brisk than they should.

## Synopsis

Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch) is a Midwestern woman at the centre of a Los Angeles sex comedy, approaching her desires with a mixture of naïveté and determination. John Slattery (John Slattery) and Jon Hamm (Jon Hamm) appear as themselves, while the surrounding ensemble includes Vincent (Ken Marino), Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) and Caleb (Ben Wang). Gail’s bluntness about sex sits alongside her sunny outlook as the story moves through celebrity encounters, Hollywood parody and recurring slapstick. Ludovica (Sabrina Impacciatore), Sergio (Joe Lo Truglio) and Niccolo (Mather Zickel) also figure in the ensemble.

## Review

David Wain’s *Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass* is a likeable comedy that could do with someone being firmer about when a joke has finished. Wain and co-writer Ken Marino favour cheerfully unreasonable behaviour, and their willingness to be silly is welcome. The difficulty is keeping that silliness going between the good routines. We would recommend it to viewers with an appetite for broad, wayward comedy, with a warning that the gaps are noticeable.

Zoey Deutch gives Gail a sunny certainty that helps the sexual material avoid becoming sour. Her naïveté leaves plenty of room for determination, particularly when she is being blunt about what she wants. We warmed to her because that sexual determination never costs her basic friendliness. It is a useful performance in a film this scattered: even when another joke wanders off, there is still someone at the centre worth spending time with.

John Slattery, playing himself, is the other reliable attraction. His straight-faced commitment gives the self-mockery room to become increasingly absurd, rather than stopping at the easy pleasure of recognising a famous person. Jon Hamm also appears as himself, so celebrity recognition is plainly part of the offer. Slattery makes a persuasive case for the device by behaving as though there is no reason to protect his dignity.

The hotel concierge business and the repeated slapstick show what Wain and Marino are after. A gag can run beyond the point at which a sensible person would stop it and become funny again through persistence alone. We enjoyed that stubbornness when another repetition made the slapstick still more ridiculous. But it is a demanding way to sustain a feature, and the weaker material exposes how long we are waiting for the next laugh.

John Daigle’s editing has to accommodate both these extended routines and a story that needs to keep moving. The balance is uneven, with the patience that benefits individual jokes also allowing the surrounding action to sag. Kevin Atkinson’s cinematography and Justin Lieb’s production design provide less of the film’s comic appeal than the performances do, while Craig Wedren’s music is similarly secondary to the actors’ delivery. The cast’s commitment remains the strongest reason to stay with it through the slack stretches.

The screenplay’s larger problem is the wandering ensemble. There is pleasure in a cast committing to nonsense, but the supporting business takes time away from a heroine who remains more engaging than much of what surrounds her. A broad spoof need not have a substantial story; it does need to make the diversions feel worth taking. Here, too many feel like ideas that earned a place by being available, rather than by being funny enough.

At 94 minutes, this ought to be an easy recommendation for a light evening, and the uneven rhythm makes us qualify it. There is enough warmth to keep the vulgarity companionable, and enough comic nerve to forgive some failed attempts. We would choose it for company already sympathetic to deliberately foolish humour. If a joke refusing to finish usually makes you impatient, Zoey Deutch can only do so much.

*Fi1m score 68, published 25 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass an enjoyably silly comedy, with praise clustering around its rapid-fire jokes and committed cast. Zoey Deutch is the clearest point of agreement: even some less enthusiastic reviews credit her sunny, spirited performance with keeping the absurdity afloat. John Slattery’s self-mocking turn also draws repeated praise. Supporters enjoy the mixture of warmth and vulgarity, and the willingness to keep pushing a ridiculous gag.

The spread is wide, however, and those prolonged jokes help explain the divide. Vulture finds that shared laughter in a cinema makes them funnier; The AV Club sees weak jokes, an unwieldy ensemble and a drawn-out subplot. Between those positions, reservations centre on uneven pacing, thin characterisation and a scattershot story. Even several favourable reviews concede that jokes miss or the film feels slight. The consensus favours the laughs, without agreeing on how much slack they earn.

## Straight answers

**Is Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass worth watching?**

*Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass* is worth considering for fans of broad, deliberately foolish comedy; we score it 68 out of 100. Zoey Deutch’s warmth and John Slattery’s straight-faced self-mockery supply the strongest laughs, but the wandering ensemble and routines that refuse to finish make it a qualified recommendation.

**How long is Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, and what is it rated?**

*Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass* runs 1h 34m. It is a comedy film.

**Where can I watch Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass in the UAE?**

*Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass* is not on any streaming or rental service in the UAE at the moment. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, and is it suitable for children?**

*Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children under 15, with its adult comedy built around blunt sexual talk, vulgarity and recurring slapstick. We would steer older teenagers and adults towards it only if they are comfortable with sexual humour; violence and frightening material are not concerns highlighted in our review.

### Reviews we read (16)

- **Empire**, Chris Hewitt (95/100, inferred): The critic calls it arguably the funniest film of the year and urges audiences not to miss it. Zoey Deutch is singled out as the film’s comic heart, deftly handling its tonal shifts. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass/)
- **IndieWire**, Christian Zilko (A-): Zilko calls the film one of David Wain’s funniest, praising its rapid-fire jokes and precise blend of wholesomeness and vulgarity. He singles out John Slattery’s self-deprecating performance as a standout among the celebrity cameos. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-movie-review-1235175438/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Richard Lawson (80/100, inferred): Lawson finds the film a welcome, gleefully silly comedy, despite some jokes missing and the pacing sagging. He especially praises its oddball humor, including a hotel concierge bit and a riotously repetitive slapstick sequence. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-david-wain-1236484782/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (80/100, inferred): Gleiberman finds the comedy succeeds at its main goal of making audiences laugh, while also offering a nostalgic satire of Hollywood. He especially praises John Slattery’s increasingly deranged, triumphant performance. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-zoey-deutch-1236640546/)
- **Vulture**, Fran Hoepfner (80/100, inferred): Hoepfner argues that the film is best experienced with a theater audience and celebrates its return to form. She especially praises how the crowd’s laughter makes the film’s deliberately prolonged jokes funnier. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-theatrical-release.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (75/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the comedy deliriously zany and charming, though its Oz allusions can become distracting. She especially praises Zoey Deutch’s spirited performance and the film’s rapid-fire jokes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-07-08/gail-daughtry-celebrity-sex-pass-review-zoey-deutch-jon-hamm-ken-marino-john-slattery-david-wain)
- **Slant Magazine**, Taylor Williams (2.5/4): Williams finds the comedy uneven but warmed by an irreverent, affectionate sensibility. They praise Zoey Deutch’s spirited balance of Midwestern naïveté and blunt sexual conviction. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-zoey-deutch/)
- **The Guardian**, Benjamin Lee (60/100, inferred): Lee finds the comedy silly and often funny, but too scattershot and underdeveloped to be a rousing success. He singles out several recurring gags and the committed cast as sources of infectious fun. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/27/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review)
- **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (60/100, inferred): Ide finds the comedy exceptionally silly but says it earns a few laughs. She singles out Zoey Deutch’s sunny performance as a saving grace. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-reviews-the-incomer)
- **The AV Club**, Jacob Oller (30/100, inferred): Oller finds the spoof unfocused and too reliant on weak, anti-comedic jokes. He praises Zoey Deutch’s performance as an unflappable, sunny lead, while saying the sprawling ensemble and drawn-out subplot bog the film down. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review)
- **Screen Daily**, Amber Wilkinson (25/100, inferred): The critic’s headline verdict is that the film is limp. The review identifies Zoey Deutch’s lead performance in an LA-set sex parody as its focus. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-zoey-deutch-heads-limp-la-set-sex-parody/5213013.article)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4/5): The critic finds the film slight and frivolous but wickedly funny, calling it Hollywood hokum at its finest. Zoey Deutch’s charismatic, fearless performance is singled out for keeping the absurd comedy buoyant. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-wholesome-hollywood-filth/)
- **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic calls the film dumb fun and a welcome breath of fresh air in mainstream comedy. They single out Zoey Deutch’s performance and the ensemble’s commitment to its absurd humor. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-sundance/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (7/10): Bonaime finds the film a delightfully ludicrous and charming return to David Wain and Ken Marino’s comic style. He especially praises John Slattery’s straight-faced, scene-stealing performance as himself. [Read](https://collider.com/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-david-wain-jon-hamm-sundance/)
- **Deadline**, Glenn Garner (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a delightfully silly, joke-packed return to the mid-budget comedy style of the aughts. They single out Zoey Deutch for landing the jokes and praise the supporting cast’s fit with the parody. [Read](https://deadline.com/2026/01/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-zoey-deutch-1236690984/)
- **The Playlist**, Marshall Shaffer (C+): Shaffer finds the comedy an entertaining but unfocused disappointment, often landing on the wrong side of the line between dumb fun and simply dumb. He praises Wain’s willingness to push an inspired gag past cringe into something sublime, while noting Zoey Deutch’s performance helps compensate for thin characterization. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/gail-daughtry-the-celebrity-sex-pass-review-david-wains-latest-comedic-effort-is-unfocused-dumb-fun-sundance-20260127/)

## Details

- **Director:** David Wain
- **Director:** David Wain
- **Writer:** David Wain, Ken Marino
- **Cinematography:** Kevin Atkinson
- **Editor:** John Daigle
- **Music:** Craig Wedren
- **Production design:** Justin Lieb
- **Costume design:** Bryn Carter
- **Producer:** Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Ken Marino
- **Cast:** Zoey Deutch as Gail Daughtry; John Slattery as John Slattery; Ken Marino as Vincent; Miles Gutierrez-Riley as Otto; Ben Wang as Caleb; Sabrina Impacciatore as Ludovica; Jon Hamm as Jon Hamm; Joe Lo Truglio as Sergio
- **Runtime:** 1h 34m
- **First release (the US):** 25 January 2026
- **Genres:** Comedy
- **Budget:** $4 million
- **Box office:** $1 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbaLieo_Kw

## Where to watch in the UAE

Not streaming, renting or buying in the UAE at the last check.

## If you liked this

- *Bowfinger* (1999): For Hollywood absurdity built around people determined to get their film made.
- *They Came Together* (2014): For romantic comedy conventions subjected to persistent, cheerfully unreasonable comic interference.
- *Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar* (2021): For sunny protagonists who remain agreeably themselves through increasingly ridiculous circumstances.
- *Smiley Face* (2007): For another Los Angeles misadventure carried by a committed comic lead.
- *The Return of the Hero* (2018): For French farce whose romantic complications depend on shameless, escalating deception.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/gail-daughtry-and-the-celebrity-sex-pass