Thanks for Sharing (2012)
Certified: 15
Duration: 112 minutes
Directed by: Stuart Blumberg
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow, Josh Gad, Joely Richardson, Alecia Moore (Pink), Patrick Fugit, Carol Kane, Michaela Watkins
KRS release

The Kids Are All Right (2010) had been one of my favourite socially aware comedies of recent times. Stuart Blumberg, who received an Oscar nomination for the film’s script, takes on directorial duties for the first time in Thanks for Sharing. The result is an engrossing and charming movie that deals with the subject of sex addiction.

The film benefits from a witty and very intelligent script. As a romantic comedy, it keeps a light-hearted tone and does not delve into the dark side of sex addiction.

The characters are self-aware, at times also poignant and yet, remarkably likeable.

Mark Ruffalo plays Adam (interesting name choice for the main character), who is an environmental consultant and lives an almost hermit-like life with as few commodities as possible. He meets Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the two click together. But he has some issues with sex which will not help the relationship grow.

Then there is Tim Robbins as Mike, Adam’s sponsor, whois married and runs a small business and coordinates the Sex Addicts Anonymous group. He has problems with his son (Patrick Fugit) who is a drug addict and believes he is in control of himself when he is not in reality.

Neil (Josh Gad) is a sex addictwho works in an emergency room and attends the group’s sessions only because of a court order. At one point his life goes down the drain and it’s only then that he realises that he needs to turn his life around. He becomes connected with Dede (Pink) who seems to be the toughest of the whole group.

Ruffalo is sympathetic, Gad is a hoot while Robbins gives the film a certain dignity. Paltrow looks positively fit. But for me, it’s pop singer Pink’s undisciplined and raw approach to acting that steals the show. She really brings out the despair of the characters.

The film is not about showing sex ; but it’s about the characters, their relationships and their situations. Its strongpoint is that the protagonists gel on screen and even though the subject is a strong one, its handling is tasteful and very realistic.

Thanks for Sharing is a truly a movie worth sharing.