Miles Gutierrez-Riley

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!

Smile 2 (2024): Parker Finn Returns to Deliver One of My Most Pleasant Surprises in 2024 Cinema

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Smile 2” is directed by Parker Finn, who also directed the first “Smile,” starring Sosie Bacon. This sequel stars Naomi Scott (Power Rangers, Aladdin) as a singer by the name Skye Riley. Joining Scott is a cast including Rosemarie DeWitt (La La Land, Poltergeist), Lukas Gage (Love, Victor, You), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (Agatha All Along, The Wilds), Peter Jacobson (House, Colony), Ray Nicholson (Out of the Blue, Panic), Dylan Gelula (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Dream Scenario), RaĂşl Castillo (Cold Weather, Looking), and Kyle Gallner (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Jennifer’s Body). This film is about a global pop star who experiences strange events while she promotes her tour.

If you have followed Scene Before for the past couple years, you would know that I have been thrilled with the horror genre lately, particularly in 2022. In that year you had one solid horror film after another. “The Black Phone,” “Barbarian,” “X,” “Pearl,” “Nope,” and of course, “Smile.” The last of these films is the feature-length debut from Parker Finn, and it was, deservedly, a huge success at the box office for Paramount. “Smile” even made my top 10 of the year. So naturally I HAD to be excited for the sequel right?

Ehh…

I love “Smile,” but it was a film I thought would be better off as a one and done. Do not get me wrong, I love the concept of “Smile,” and I was at least slightly intrigued to see another take on it. I did not see this sequel coming. Thankfully, Parker Finn is back, and he clearly knew what he was doing the first time around. He created a film that made me feel uneasy, terrified, and riveted. But if you are going to get someone to expand this universe, it might as well be an individual who knows it well. Though name recognition is not good enough. I hope Finn had a solid idea up his sleeve and was not just coming back to slap something together for a quick buck.

Thankfully, I am proud to say that this sequel lives up to the original. There are parts of this movie that I would even say are an improvement from the original. While I was more intrigued by the story of the first film, maybe due to the concept feeling fresh, I found the lead for “Smile 2” to leap off the screen more. Both in terms of her character, and her performance.

“Smile 2” is led by Naomi Scott, who I have not seen in a ton of projects. I know she is particularly famous for her appearance in the 2019 Disney “Aladdin” remake. I have not seen that film. Although I do like her based on what I saw her in leading up to this picture. I thought Scott was a good actress before seeing “Smile 2,” but I had no idea what exactly she was capable of until watching this film. Scott is given a lot to do between channeling a neverending sense of fear, singing, trying to convince others she is not going berserk. I bought into her entire performance. I will also give some credit to the costuming and makeup departments. Scott plays a pop star, and those two departments do a great job at transforming Scott into an artist admired by a sea of fans.

I have not seen the first “Smile” since the theater. I want to watch it again at some point. It could be fun to do a double feature of these films back to back. But kind of like the first film, once it gets to the ending, that is where “Smile 2” becomes as unhinged as it possibly can. This film might not exactly contain my favorite ending of the year. But I could not imagine a more fitting outcome of the story if I tried. Going back to the original “Smile,” I cannot say I remember everything that happens in that film’s climax. Though I will not deny that whatever did happen, made my skin crawl like you would not believe. It is not to say that the rest of the film was not scary. But I specifically remember the feeling I had watching parts of the climax. I felt an equally noticeable sense of discomfort watching the entirety of “Smile 2.” I was scared not just because of what loomed over our protagonist from a supernatural perspective, but also from a pure sanity standpoint. This film to a certain degree repeats concepts from the original in addition to other horror movies, but even these familiar elements feel as if they are done to their maximum potential.

Also with “Smile 2” being a sequel, it follows a cliche that many sequels tend to carry with them, that is to go bigger than its predecessor. I sometimes cite this as a negative in my reviews because while the scope expands, the quality of the story does not. Therefore, bigger does not always mean better. But I felt that the added scope of this film made for a more immersive and better production than the original. The film cost $28 million to make, up from its predecessor’s $17 million. Both budgets are not necessarily high, but the crew behind “Smile 2” clearly threw more money at the screen to give something more visually appealing than what was given in the first “Smile.” The sets feel more grand. The color palette is glossier. Even the look of our main character played by Naomi Scott has more pizzazz. Granted, she is a pop star, so she would require more elaborate outfits and makeup than the original’s lead, Sosie Bacon, who played a therapist.

Though if I have one negative-ish thing to say about the film, it is that it often comes off as a commercial. It is not shot like a commercial. It very much has the look and feel of a movie. But we get numerous glimpses of Paramount Global’s assets in order to further the story including a CBS news network and “The Drew Barrymore Show.” Have you ever watched a Sony movie and noticed them trying to promote their phones? TVs? Headsets? PlayStations? That is kind of what this feels like. In fact, some would even say that this shameless self-promotion is not even the biggest piece of commercialism in the film. It stood out to me, probably because I have a good amount of experience with mass media. But some would even say that Voss Water plays an even bigger role in “Smile 2” in terms of product placement. This did not bother me in particular. If anything, I thought anytime our main protagonist drank water in the movie, those moments properly encapsulated what she was feeling in specific scenes. Did this movie make me want Voss Water? Not really. So as for the effectiveness of this commercial, maybe it will work better for other people. I sound like a Negative Nancy, but if you want me to be real, the product placement here, while noticeable, is not as obnoxious as “Madame Web.”

“Smile 2” has something in common with another sequel from this year, “Inside Out 2.” These are movies that I thought had phenomenal first outings, but I was rather nervous when I found out they were getting sequels. I did not think a follow-up would be as good or worthwhile. I did not find a sequel to be all that necessary compared to other properties out there. But both sequels surprised me and stuck the landing. I think “Smile 2” is more consistent in quality with its predecessor whereas “Inside Out 2” is a noticeable step down, but still a pretty good flick. Another thing these movies have in common… I would not mind seeing a third one. I would especially be happy if Parker Finn comes back to do a threequel, though if someone else has a fresh idea up their sleeve, I would not be opposed to checking it out. But this second film is worth watching. It is not my favorite horror movie of the year. I think “A Quiet Place: Day One” is slightly better when it comes to characterization and overall engagement. But this is a huge win for the franchise, for Parker Finn, and for Paramount. I would love to see more of this property if possible.

In the end, it is safe to say, if you like the first “Smile” movie, chances are you will enjoy the second one. If you are not a fan of the first “Smile” movie, then maybe skip this sequel. I am going back and forth as to which movie I like more. I have to give the first film a lot of credit because it took a clever, crazy idea and turned it into an equally clever, crazy movie. Though I think this second film ups the scares, ups the insanity, ups the acting, and ups the production value. That said, I do think the first film’s story is slightly more engaging, as much as I like the main character and concept of this film as well. Despite how often this movie made me wince, I am definitely all smiles talking about it now. I am going to give “Smile 2” an 8/10.

“Smile 2” is now playing in theaters and is available to rent or buy on VOD. As of this writing the film is available to all Paramount+ and MGM+ subscribers.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for “Nightbitch,” “Kraven the Hunter,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” 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 “Smile 2?” What did you think about it? Or, which of the “Smile” movies puts a bigger grin on your face? The original? Or the sequel? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!