Last time the theme of sex addiction was featured in a major film, there was a lot of unabashed nudity that was almost gratuitous. Now, The Kids Are Alright screenwriter Stuart Blumberg marks his directorial debut with a comedy drama about troubled sex addicts except there are more clothes on in this one.
Thanks for Sharing stars an ensemble cast, featuring Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins and surprising performance from pop star Pink, as a group of people who undergo a twelve-step treatment for sex addiction.
The problem with putting a humorous spin on taboo issues, like sex addition, is that it blurs the overall tone of the film in question. For instance, 2010’s Love and Other Drugs was also labelled as a comedy drama, but the lighter tone of the first hour or so is immediately overshadowed by the dramatic aspects of the story. The same problem crops up in Blumberg’s feature – the funny moments only serve as a temporary distraction from the bigger picture, so there is an uncertainty as to whether the film is supposed to entertain or inform.
However, as occasional as the humorous moments are during the film, they are genuinely entertaining and the performances are enjoyably varied, from Ruffalo’s conflicted Adam to the struggling newbie Neil (Josh Gad). In terms of development, it would have been too easy to make a film all about sex but Blumberg, along with his co-writer Matt Winston, highlight the dependencies of the film’s circle of addicts. As the film explores the friendships between the addicts, their sponsors and their friends, the interactions – even the darker moments, such as a shocking encounter involving Ruffalo and a former flame – collectively shape this into a character-driven drama.
Regardless of its humour and sensitive moments, Thanks for Sharing fails to find a balance between a comedy and drama.
Thanks for Sharing is out in UK cinemas on Friday 13th September 2013.
Director: Stuart Blumberg
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins
Runtime: 112 min
Country: USA
Film Rating: 
