Thanks for Sharing

One person’s addiction is another’s source of entertainment, at least as far as the increasing number of films about uncontrollable urges are concerned. The latest compulsion littering cinema screens: sex, and lots of it. Thanks for Sharing follows in the footsteps of Shame, Choke, Auto Focus, Deconstructing Harry, and A Dirty Shame, to name a few; and that’s just the list of titles actively addressing the topic.

Indeed, writer/director Stuart Blumberg’s exploration of the subject can’t escape the presence of its predecessors, its evocation of familiar tropes doing little to aid its depiction of affliction. The point of difference comes from the distinctive feel-good spin, painting the path to recovery with the biggest, breeziest of strokes, and cultivating light-hearted comedy amidst its ample drama.

Adam (Mark Ruffalo, Now You See Me) copes with his five-year regime of restraint with the assistance of his sponsor, Mike (Tim Robbins, Green Lantern); however, his progress is hindered when the addict-phobic, overtly sexual Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man 3) enters his life. Taking on his own mentoring duties – assisting the bumbling Neil (Josh Gad, The Internship) – only exacerbates his situation. And yet, through the process of facing their predilections together, the three men endeavour to find a way forward.

Tone is of vital importance to Blumberg’s debut feature, as it is to the subject at hand, with the balance of levity and seriousness a matter of delicacy. In his script for the well-received The Kids Are All Right, he demonstrated deft with both; alas, in Thanks for Sharing, broadness and blandness replaces his previously-sighted nuance. The scenarios depicted – all predicated around avoiding temptation and sharing such struggles – are routine and rote, indistinguishable from the plethora of similar efforts. The characters, too, conform to standard stereotypes; even the acting debut of Alecia ‘Pink’ Moore plays upon the hallmarks of her pop star persona.

Thankfully, the film’s ordinariness remains amiable – albeit unremarkable – with the feature peppered with plenty of pleasant, performance-oriented moments. Attempting to overcome the material, the cast prove committed to adding depth beyond the flimsily-drawn facades, their interactions and rapport the feature’s strongest element. Ruffalo inserts charm, Paltrow is cognisant of her detached leanings, and Gad turns in his least quirk-driven effort in some time. That the remainder of Thanks for Sharing’s competent construction conforms to the average benchmark is to be expected, yet also remains disappointing; given the topic and talent involved, as well as the focus on three intertwined tales over one all-consuming protagonist, the film seethes with squandered potential.

Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5