‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ Review David Wain’s Latest Comedy Delivers Laughs

Summer 2026 has been a bustling season for new theatrical releases, with a mix of horror sequels and Disney remakes vying for audience attention. Among the larger titles is a bold, unapologetically raunchy comedy that first gained traction on the festival circuit months prior to its wide release, and it is now finally available to general audiences.

‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass‘ comes from director David Wain, known for cult classics like ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘They Came Together’, and features a screenplay co-written with longtime collaborator Ken Marino. The film debuted at Sundance earlier this year and also screened at Tribeca, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about comedies of the festival circuit.

As reviews for the wide release start to pour in, critics seem to agree on one key point: this film is a delightfully absurd, joke-laden comedy that revels in its ridiculousness rather than striving for anything grounded. Rotten Tomatoes has the film in a respectable range, with reviewers praising its rapid-fire humor, even as some note that the plot serves primarily as a vehicle for a series of sketches.

The narrative centers on Gail Daughtry, portrayed by Zoey Deutch, a small-town Kansas hairdresser engaged to her high school sweetheart Tom. Their relationship includes a running gag about a hypothetical celebrity sex pass, which takes a turn when Tom actually acts on his during an unexpected encounter with Jennifer Aniston at a book signing. Heartbroken, Gail travels to Los Angeles with her best friend Otto, played by Miles Gutierrez-Riley, on a quest to find her own celebrity crush, Jon Hamm.

What ensues is a chaotic scavenger hunt through Hollywood, with critics likening it to a raunchy take on ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Gail assembles a quirky group of allies along the way, including a hopeful talent agent played by Ben Wang, a washed-up paparazzo portrayed by Marino, and a fictionalized version of John Slattery who plays an exaggerated version of himself. The group also finds themselves chased by a band of Italian mobsters due to a luggage mix-up at the airport, adding a layer of chase movie chaos to the film’s already wild tone.

Critics have highlighted the film’s love-hate relationship with Los Angeles as one of its sharpest running gags, with the city almost acting as a character in its own right. One reviewer described the film as a tribute to chain restaurants, star maps, and the tourists who cling to outdated notions of Hollywood glamour, calling it a satire infused with nostalgic affection for a version of the city that has largely faded away.

Deutch has emerged as one of the film’s standout elements, with critics commending her ability to keep Gail endearing and relatable even as the character navigates increasingly vulgar situations. Her performance has been likened to that of a wholesome, classic leading lady thrust into a thoroughly modern, raunchy comedy, a contrast that many reviewers noted as essential to the film’s success.

However, not all reviews have been entirely positive. Some critics argue that the film’s relentless stream of jokes and celebrity cameos never quite coalesce into something more substantial, with one comparing it unfavorably to other Los Angeles-based vanity projects that rely too heavily on star power instead of genuine humor. Pacing issues in the latter half of the film have also been mentioned, with a few reviewers noting that the momentum dips slightly before reaching the conclusion.

Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus leans toward the positive, especially for fans of Wain and Marino’s brand of absurdist, cliché-busting comedy. The film’s willingness to fully embrace its own absurdity, rather than attempting to ground its premise in any semblance of reality, seems to be the point, and most critics agree that when the jokes hit, they hit hard.

‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ is currently in theaters, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, and arrives alongside several other high-profile releases competing for the summer box office.

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