Ben Wang

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026): The Wizard of Oz Meets Hall Pass Meets The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is directed by David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models) and stars Zoey Deutch (Zombieland: Double Tap, Juror No. 2), John Slattery (Mad Men, Spotlight), Ken Marino (Wet Hot American Summer, Burning Love), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (The Wilds, Agatha All Along), Ben Wang (Karate Kid: Legends, American Born Chinese), Sabrina Impacciatore (The Paper, The White Lotus), and Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Keeping Up with the Joneses). This film follows Gail Daughtry, whose husband-to-be winds up having sex with his celebrity hall pass. Once Gail comes to this realization, she realizes there is only one appropriate action to get even… To seek out her celebrity hall pass, Jon Hamm, and have sex with him.

There is a saying that sex sells. Well, unless your sex-centric movie is coming out the same weekend as a highly unnecessary “Moana” remake. Granted, “Moana,” as of this writing, barely made its budget back, so I guess it is not doing as hot as Disney expected. Either way, as I ventured on my quest to avoid the much unneeded “Moana” reimagination, one movie that caught my eye was “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.” One vision I often have as a potential screenplay but have never been fully able to put together is the idea of someone hooking up with a real life celebrity crush. When I discovered there was a comedy coming out about a woman trying to sleep with Jon Hamm, I knew I had to be there opening weekend.

I am glad to say that “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is not just good, but one of the funniest movies I have seen in some time. I saw this film on its opening weekend at my local multiplex. I was the only person in the 35 seat auditorium. Yes, 35… The room is as small as Rhode Island. It makes me kind of sad that no one showed up to support this movie. But it was also a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to laugh as hard as humanly possible due to no one else being in sight. And believe me, this movie is full of laughs.

This is “The Wizard of Oz” meets “Hall Pass” meets “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.” No, seriously, if you have seen part of that last example, there is an important point in the story that is vastly similar to that Disney+ original. No, Kevin Bacon is not in this movie. I sincerely Apollo-gize to the 13 people who give a crap.

Another film this reminds me of is “Happy Gilmore 2.” And by that I mean, this film feels like a significantly more watchable version of it. When I watched the long-awaited, gargantuanly inferior sequel to Adam Sandler’s classic, one thing that stood out to me is how many cameos the film had. I remember one or two being funny. I particularly like the Ken Jennings one towards the beginning. But the film as a whole wound up coming off as an excuse to shove in as many recognizable faces as humanly possible to the point where it superseded the importance of the story. It was almost overwhelming. There are plenty of prominent celebrity appearances in “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” but quite a few of them effectively contribute to the story. There is one scene involving “Weird Al” Yankovic that had me in stitches. Look forward to it.

In today’s world of remakes, “The Wizard of Oz” is a film that I am both shocked and delighted has not been redone as a major release. “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is one of the closest examples that comes to mind of the 1939 movie becoming reimagined for today’s generation. For instance, this film starts in a typical 16:9 ratio one would normally find on a flat-screen TV. But as soon as Gail arrives in Los Angeles, it changes to scope widescreen. Kind of like how the picture changed from black and white to color in “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” puts a modern twist on the classic hero’s journey that Dorothy takes in “The Wizard of Oz.” However, instead of going from Kansas to a fantasyland, this film’s protagonist flies from Kansas to Los Angeles to fulfill her destiny. One that is undoubtedly much more twisted. …Okay, maybe not, there are no twisters in this movie. During her travels, she meets all kinds of characters along the way, each one dealing with their own hardships. There is Caleb (Ben Wang), who works for the Creative Arts Agency and runs into a complication with said job. There is Vincent (Ken Marino), a former paparazzo who has made it his life’s mission to photograph Jon Hamm himself. There is also Jon Slattery. Yes, that one – whose lack of a social life with Jon Hamm after “Mad Men” quickly becomes evident.

Of course, this movie also features Jon Hamm as himself. I thought the way they used him was perfect, and once again, going back to “The Wizard of Oz,” reminded me a lot of a particular character from that film. One person standing in the way between our heroes and Hamm is Terrance (Tobie Windham), a security guard who repeatedly threatens the group saying he is going to make them sick. Windham is good enough in Terrance’s shoes to the point I honestly cannot imagine anyone else in this minor role. Maybe except Craig Robinson, because when the character first showed up on screen, that is who I thought was playing him for some reason.

This movie feels like a breath of fresh air after having to sit through “The Breadwinner” weeks prior. In fact, one of my complaints about that movie is how much it felt like a commercial. There is no shortage of recognizable brands in this film, but they are used in smart ways. There is a scene where we see Gail and Otto arrive at a hotel in Los Angeles. What follows is a moment that made me die laughing based on what I knew about the Los Angeles tourist scene. I will not give much away, but it involves prominent brands like McDonalds, Starbucks, and Foot Locker.

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” has so much fun with its perhaps unlikely premise. Much like “Bottoms” did a few years ago, “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” successfully managed to make me believe the unbelievable. The film requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I found myself completely immersed in what this picture had to offer. Everything from the horned-up premise to the over the top antagonist played with excellence by Sabrina Impaccitore to the celebrities getting involved in the story to the hilarious screenplay that sometimes addresses the most minor details in gutbusting ways.

In the end, “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is one of the funniest movies of the past couple years. I may have a bias as this film constantly makes fun of the entertainment industry and Los Angeles, two concepts I hold deep in my heart. Yet at its core, “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is an action-packed adventure that sees someone trying to realize a fantasy that I imagine everyone wants to fulfill at some point in their lives. In 1939, “The Wizard of Oz” showed the world that there is no place like home. Fast forward to 2026, “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” showed the world that there is no place like Jon Hamm’s bed. I am going to give “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” an 8/10.

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! In case you missed it, last Sunday, I dropped the newest episode of the Scene Before original series, “Movie Requests!” This newest episode features “Lord of the Rings” star Elijah Wood, who suggested I should watch “Festen,” also known as “The Celebration!” To find out my thoughts, click the video above! Also, if you enjoy the video, leave a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, that way you can check out new episodes of the series as soon as they drop!

My next review is going to be for “The Odyssey!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Her Private Hell,” “Haunted Heist,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “I Want Your Sex,” and “The Invite.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass?” What did you think about it? Or… Let’s be honest… Who’s your celebrity crush? Just say it! They might be listening and will likely decide right on the spot whether or not they are willing to accept your nonsensical desires. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take! So, Ana de Armas, if you are reading this, I am single. Would you like to go grab an ice cream sometime? Your move. Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

The Long Walk (2025): No Missteps, No Filler, All Killer

Posted on by Jack Drees

© Courtesy of Lionsgate

“The Long Walk” is directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Red Sparrow) and stars Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza, Saturday Night), David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus, Industry), Garrett Wareing (Perfect, Manifest), Tut Nyuot (The Dumping Ground, Dark Money), Charlie Plummer (Words on Bathroom Walls, Moonfall), Ben Wang (American Born Chinese, Karate Kid: Legends), Joshua Odjick (The Swarm, Sweet Summer Pow Wow), Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit, The King of Kings), Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade, Reality), Judy Greer (The 15:17 to Paris, Ant-Man), and Mark Hamill (Star Wars, The Wild Robot). This film is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name and centers around a group of young boys who compete in an event where they must keep walking to the finish line at three miles per hour, or die.

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate/Murray Close/Lionsgate – © 2025 Lionsgate

“The Long Walk” is the latest work from Stephen King to be adapted for the screen this year following “The Monkey,” which I did not see. As well as “The Life of Chuck,” which I did see and I can confirm it is one of my favorite films of 2025. What brought me out to “The Long Walk” is the same thing that brought me out to “The Life of Chuck,” the marketing. Although in this case, the vibe that the “Long Walk” campaign seemed to be going for was a lot darker and gorier. I dug what the team was going for. But there have been great trailers to bad movies. Just look at my review for “Godzilla: King of the Monsters…”

Thankfully, that is not the case with “The Long Walk,” which is more than just a great film, it is among my favorites of the year. When I left this film, the first thought on my mind was, “How does this rank against ‘The Life of Chuck?’” I have no clue what my best movies of the year list is going to look like, but right now there are two Stephen King adaptations that are serious contenders to be on the top half of the list.

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate/Murray Close/Lionsgate – © 2025 Lionsgate

“The Long Walk” supports the notion that sometimes the simplest ideas can make for the grandest stories. The concept of this film is that a group of young men have to walk and avoid getting shot to death. If what I described sounds somewhat boring, I get it. But this movie is much more than meets the eye. The cast may move at a slow pace, but this film is all killer, no filler from beginning to end. This story wastes no time getting straight into the event. We see a letter written to the protagonist, Raymond Garraty, saying he’s been chosen to participate in the Long Walk. Then we see have a moment with his mom, after which he exits the car and goes off on his adventure. This beginning offers a perfect blend of mystery and nerves. Seeing Garraty leave the car reminded me of what it would be like to see your child going off to fight in the military. You do not know what is going to happen. You are fearful of whatever is bound to happen. And you absolutely, positively do not want to see your child get seriously hurt.

This film is directed by Francis Lawrence, whose resume includes the “Hunger Games” franchise. The film does, at times, have a “Hunger Games” vibe considering it is set in the future, and everyone is playing a game where only one can survive. That said, unlike “The Hunger Games,” which features a lot of buildup before the games, the “game” in “The Long Walk” goes on for practically the entire runtime. Again, it does not take long for the game to start, and once it finishes, it does not take that long for the film to end. Speaking of which, if I had any critiques for the film, the ending does feel a smidge unfulfilling, but this film is consistent with its ending based on how quickly it tends to get to the point.

I do not think it is a spoiler at this point to say that people die in “The Long Walk.” Heck, people die in lots of movies. Sorry if I ruined most of your unwatched entertainment. “The Long Walk” is not breaking new ground. But I do dig how it handles its deaths. I did not read the book so I cannot comment on any differences between the film and the source material, but every death in this movie, to some degree, feels appropriate and earned. It does a great job at picking who lives and dies at certain times of the film. It allows time for certain characters to flesh themselves out, and when said characters die, it makes those deaths all the more gripping. The film has a number of characters who linger in the background, but those put in the foreground are all stellar. I enjoyed getting to know every single one, even if they were written in such a way where it was clear the movie was trying to get you to root against them.

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate/Murray Close/Lionsgate – © 2025 Lionsgate

This movie stars Cooper Hoffman (center), who continues to make a name for himself after his breakout role in 2021’s “Licorice Pizza.” I had some problems with “Licorice Pizza.” Hoffman’s ability to give a competent performance is not one of them. Similarly, he does a commendable job in “The Long Walk.” Hoffman plays the incredibly layered Ray Garraty. I enjoyed not only getting to know the character in the present, but the movie also effectively uses flashbacks to tell his story and detail his background.

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate/Murray Close/Lionsgate – © 2025 Lionsgate

When I think of Mark Hamill, my mind unfairly darts to thoughts of Luke Skywalker. What can I say? I live for “Star Wars.” But forget everything you know about that hero, because Hamill slips into the antagonist role of the Major with ease. He is a character that I love to hate. Hamill plays the part with such a stern, demanding tone where I could easily tell he was having a ball on set. Hamill’s dialogue in the film is minimal, and often to the point. But whenever he does speak, every line is a highlight. They say a movie is only as good as its villain, so by that logic, “The Long Walk” is exceptional. Hamill’s performance is so well-delivered that I cannot see anyone else in his shoes.

In the end, “The Long Walk” is one of the best movies of the year. This film is not for everyone, but if you can handle some blood and gore, I think you are going to have a ball from the first scene to the last. “The Long Walk” is more of a thriller than a horror flick, but it has a lot of elements that would make a “horror” flick so admirable. “The Long Walk” is a concept that is as simple as it gets, but it is done as perfectly and exquisitely as possible. I am going to give “The Long Walk” a 9/10.

“The Long Walk” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Him,” “Eleanor the Great,” “The Lost Bus,” and “One Battle After Another.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Long Walk?” What did you think about it? Did you read the book? How does the film compare to it? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!