Quick Read
- David Wain’s ‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ premiered at Sundance, starring Jon Hamm, John Slattery, and Zoey Deutch.
- The film follows a bride’s quest for her celebrity ‘hall pass’ after her fiancé uses his.
- It seeks distribution amid a potential resurgence of theatrical comedies, following recent box office successes.
- HBO Max released ‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man’ documentary celebrating the comedy legend’s upcoming 100th birthday.
- The documentary highlights Brooks’ iconic films like ‘Blazing Saddles’ and his enduring wit.
PARK CITY (Azat TV) – David Wain’s new absurdist comedy, ‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,’ featuring Jon Hamm, John Slattery, and Zoey Deutch, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, signaling a potential resurgence for theatrical comedies. The premiere marks 25 years since Wain and his creative partner Ken Marino debuted ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ at the same festival, and it arrives as Hollywood begins to reconsider the viability of comedies in movie theaters after a decade-long decline.
Sundance Debut for ‘Gail Daughtry’
The film, which had a working title of ‘I’ll Take the Hamm,’ follows a Midwestern bride-to-be, Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch), who embarks on a ‘quixotic quest’ through Los Angeles. Her journey begins after her fiancé has sex with his celebrity ‘hall pass,’ prompting her to track down her own: actor Jon Hamm, who plays a version of himself. Actor John Slattery, also playing himself, is enlisted to assist Daughtry in her endeavor, portrayed as having fallen on hard times since his ‘Mad Men’ heyday.
Slattery, who was filming a post-World War II drama in Budapest when Hamm called him about the role, described the script as ‘funny and weird and like nothing I had done before.’ Hamm, a longtime collaborator with Wain and Marino, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting the opportunity to work with the duo’s unique comedic vision. ‘When you get an offer to go to work and it’s, ‘Come and laugh for 12 to 14 hours, and you’ll also get a very meager paycheck, as well.’ You go, ‘OK, that sounds fun,” Hamm told The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting the goodwill Wain and Marino have cultivated.
Known for assembling large ensembles of A-list talent, Wain’s latest is no exception. Zoey Deutch, fresh from her role as Jean Seberg in Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Vague,’ takes on the titular role, explaining her attraction to the film with a laugh: ‘No, it’s just, tops to tails, a wild ride.’ A significant highlight for the cast was filming on location across Los Angeles, including iconic spots like Chateau Marmont and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a rarity during a period of production downturn in the city. Hamm praised Wain’s ability to maximize a budget, making ‘making $100 look like $10,000,’ while Slattery noted the director’s meticulous, yet fast-paced, shooting style.
The Return of Theatrical Comedies
‘Gail Daughtry’ arrives at a pivotal moment for comedy in Hollywood. The film was produced independently and is currently seeking distribution, hoping to capitalize on a renewed interest in releasing comedies in cinemas. For the past decade, mid-budget genre films, including comedies, have struggled at the box office, often relegated to streaming platforms. However, recent successes suggest a potential shift. Last year saw R-rated comedies such as ‘One of Them Days,’ starring Keke Palmer, gross over $50 million, and the Liam Neeson-fronted ‘The Naked Gun’ remake exceed $100 million, both receiving positive critical reception.
Deutch articulated a sentiment shared by many in the industry: ‘There are so many great, funny people in Hollywood who want to make funny movies. And I feel like I hear this question in this conversation all the time, amongst so many of them, is like, ‘Why can’t we get great funny movies made anymore?” Hamm echoed this desire for shared laughter, recalling sold-out screenings of films like the ‘South Park’ movie where audiences erupted in collective joy. After its Sundance premiere, the hope is for ‘Gail Daughtry’ to find its way into movie theaters, allowing audiences to experience that communal comedic experience.
Celebrating a Comedy Icon: Mel Brooks at 99
While new comedic voices like David Wain continue to innovate, Hollywood is also taking time to honor its enduring legends. HBO Max is marking the upcoming 100th birthday of iconic comedian, writer, director, and producer Mel Brooks with a new documentary, ‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man.’ Directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, the film offers a retrospective on Brooks’ decades-long career and his immense contributions to comedy.
Brooks, who will celebrate his 100th birthday on June 28, has left an indelible mark on cinema with classics such as ‘The Producers,’ ‘Blazing Saddles,’ ‘Young Frankenstein,’ and ‘Spaceballs.’ These films are celebrated for their hilarious, irreverent parodies and fearless satire, consistently demonstrating originality and significant cultural impact. The documentary delves into production stories, including the creative back-and-forth that led to some of ‘Young Frankenstein’s’ most beloved scenes. According to Hollywood Outbreak, the film reminds viewers that even at 99, Brooks remains ‘razor-sharp and still very funny,’ with his wit, timing, and personality proving as crucial to his legacy as his cinematic achievements. ‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man’ is currently available on HBO Max, offering a warm dose of nostalgia for longtime fans and an insight into how his career shaped modern comedy.
The confluence of a new independent comedy seeking theatrical distribution and a documentary celebrating a comedy titan highlights Hollywood’s ongoing reckoning with the genre. As filmmakers push boundaries with fresh, absurdist humor, the industry simultaneously acknowledges the foundational impact of masters who defined comedic excellence, suggesting a dual path forward for laughter on both the big screen and streaming platforms.