PARK CITY (Azat TV) – Jon Hamm, the Emmy-winning actor celebrated for his dramatic roles, is set to premiere his new absurdist comedy, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend. The film’s debut is not only a notable comedic turn for Hamm but also a potential bellwether for the broader resurgence of comedies in movie theaters, a genre that has seen a significant decline in theatrical releases over the past decade.
Directed by David Wain, known for his unique brand of humor in films like Wet Hot American Summer and Childrens Hospital, Gail Daughtry reunites Hamm with his former Mad Men co-star, John Slattery. The plot follows a Midwestern bride-to-be, portrayed by Zoey Deutch, who embarks on a quest through Los Angeles to find her own celebrity ‘hall pass,’ Jon Hamm, after her fiancé cheats with his. Slattery plays a fictionalized, down-on-his-luck version of himself, enlisted to aid in the endeavor.
A Comedic Reunion and Creative Freedom
The collaboration for Gail Daughtry began with a call from Hamm to Slattery, intriguing his former co-star with the concept of playing a version of himself. Slattery, who was filming a post-World War II drama in Budapest, recalled to The Hollywood Reporter that the script was ‘funny and weird and like nothing I had done before.’ Hamm, a long-time admirer and occasional collaborator with Wain and his creative partner Ken Marino, described the opportunity to be ‘projected through the lens of Ken Marino and David Wain’ as a ‘pretty fun experience.’ He noted the goodwill Wain and Marino have built, allowing them to attract top talent for projects with modest budgets, often characterized by their signature blend of visual gags, joke-heavy dialogue, and socially inept characters.
Newcomer to Wain’s ensemble, Zoey Deutch, who recently starred as Jean Seberg in Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. She described the film as ‘tops to tails, a wild ride,’ emphasizing its unique comedic nature over any perceived emotional depth. The production leveraged various Los Angeles locations, including the iconic Chateau Marmont and Elysian Park, a feat made more remarkable given the years-long downswing in local film production. Deutch recounted how camera crews were often hidden to capture scenes on the Walk of Fame, allowing the cast to move unnoticed among tourists.
Sundance Premiere Amidst Industry Shifts
The Sundance premiere of Gail Daughtry holds particular significance, occurring 25 years after Wain and Marino first introduced Wet Hot American Summer at the same festival. While Sundance has launched successful comedies, a ‘straight comedy’ premiering there remains a rarity. The film, produced independently, is actively seeking distribution at a time when Hollywood appears to be re-evaluating the theatrical release of comedies. For nearly a decade, mid-budget genre films, including comedies, struggled to find financial footing in cinemas, often relegated to streaming platforms.
However, recent box office successes suggest a potential shift. Last year, R-rated comedies such as One of Them Days and the Liam Neeson-led The Naked Gun garnered positive critical reception and significant box office earnings, exceeding $50 million and $100 million respectively. This trend has sparked renewed hope among filmmakers and actors, including Deutch, who expressed a common sentiment in Hollywood: ‘Why can’t we get great funny movies made anymore?’ Hamm echoed the sentiment, recalling sold-out screenings of comedies like the South Park movie and emphasizing the unique gratification of experiencing collective laughter in a theater.
Hamm’s Diverse Career Path
Hamm’s journey to a leading role in an absurdist comedy highlights his versatile career. His breakout role came as Don Draper in the critically acclaimed television series Mad Men, a performance that earned him widespread recognition and an Emmy Award. Before his meteoric rise, Hamm made his feature film debut 26 years ago in Clint Eastwood’s 2000 space adventure, Space Cowboys, playing an unnamed ‘Young Pilot No. 2.’ While a minor role, it marked his entry into the film world, later leading to a reunion with Eastwood in 2019’s Richard Jewell.
Beyond his dramatic work, Hamm has also showcased his talents in action-thrillers. He notably featured in Ben Affleck’s 2010 heist film, The Town, which is currently streaming on Netflix and widely praised by critics and audiences alike as one of the ‘greatest heist movies ever.’ His performance alongside Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, and Rebecca Hall contributed to the film’s 92% Rotten Tomatoes score and its reputation for intense robbery sequences and memorable performances. From his early days in minor roles to commanding lead performances in both drama and comedy, Hamm has consistently demonstrated a willingness to explore diverse characters and genres.
The premiere of Gail Daughtry at Sundance, coupled with the industry’s cautious re-embrace of theatrical comedies, positions Jon Hamm not just as a versatile actor but as a key figure in testing the waters for the genre’s big-screen viability, potentially influencing future production and distribution strategies in Hollywood.