Thanks for Sharing (2013)

For his directorial debut, Stuart Blumberg, co-writer of "The Kids Are All Right," has stepped away from the reproductive side of things. "Thanks…" interweaves three stories of sex addicts in recovery, each with a different tone—an edgy romance between Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth P, a family drama with Tim Robbins and Patrick Fugit as embattled father and son, and a less complicated tale with Josh Gad and Pink as perfectly matched recovery buddies. The conflicts in the first two stories may seem contrived—you get the feeling Blumberg doesn't like to create difficulties for his characters—but the atmosphere of camaraderie in "the rooms" and the gritty twelve-step humor ("It's gonna hurt like a back-alley colonoscopy," says Robbins at one point) come across as authentic. Nice work by Emily Meade as the booty call from hell; the final montage of twelve-steppers testifying, with a great Billy Bragg song on the soundtrack, is genuinely moving. Without a skilled director like Lisa Cholodenko at the helm, this one's not as solidly constructed or as emotionally involving as "The Kids Are All Right," but it's an entertaining film with some real substance to it. Available on streaming Netflix.

This film tells the story of several men dealing with sex addictions in a twelve step recovery group."Thanks For Sharing" looks like a drama on the surface, as it deals with a rather serious topic. The plot is quite well written, as it details the individuals' lives and their states of mind. The main characters are very well developed, and I care for all of them. On the other hand, the story telling is quite light hearted, making it a romantic comedy as well. I particularly like the subplot between Josh Gad and Pink, because they offer the most surprises. And I didn't know Pink can act so well!

I loved this movie!!! bravo for the brave souls who tackled it! I own a masters as a movie connoisseur, and have some familiarity with the 12 step program, myself. Amazing and righteously done! This film is so close to the experiences of an addict and or co-addict, that I was utterly convinced that the many who worked on this film really have a grasp on how quickly ones path can take a dark turn, if he/she is honest enough with themselves to broach this topic and turn themselves over to 12 step community and a higher power to get the help they need.This film elegantly captures the reality of "the life". Grace and nurture are definitely found and used, here, in the face of such grim subject matter of this film, which for some means life and death. This is a beautiful compassionate film which shows not only how tough relationships are in a "normal persons" life, but goes out of its way to show how much harder they are for those who face the imbalance of sexual/relational addiction in ones life; but it offers it in a compassionate mannerism of hope and faith in the light of such difficulties for those who are afflicted. WE still don't know what causes the mind this imbalance, but Im grateful that there are those out in the entertainment biz, who handle such delicate matters with a grace, compassion, love for our human brothers and sisters who suffer with this (and similar maladies), and maybe even offer a light to a better path...perhaps even an easier softer approach for many circumstance covered in this piece of work. Its not just a piece of art, but educational informative work and sometimes shows we can approach life with all the joy, humor and brevity needed to get us through one day at a time. Even one those played their part were showing the honesty of how humans behave and how forgiveness and love goes sooo far in the human condition of recovery. Thanks to all who worked on this film; its beautifully honest while being real.

'It's like trying to quit crack while the pipe is attached to your body' Stuart Blumberg is a director who takes chances (The Girl Next Door , The Kids Are All Right, Keeping the Faith). Using a screenplay he wrote in conjunction with actor Matt Winston he approaches a subject rarely touched upon (or even known about to the general public) – sex addiction – and with the very capable assistance of a superb cast of actors he brings it off. The film may disturb some, especially those easily offended by the degree of self indulgence that story addresses, but stay with this story to the end and be enlightened and touched by the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable odds.The story centers around three sex addicts who must attend 12 step meetings, have a sponsor, and refrain from onanism or frottage or viewing pornography, sharing their shortcomings at eh meetings of fellow addicts. Adam (Mark Ruffalo) is an environmental consultant whose has been 'sober' for five years and has as his sponsor Mike (Tim Robbins), a small business owner married to the supportive Katie (Jowly Richardson) with whom he has a disowned alcoholic son Danny (Patrick Fugit), and who is sponsor to the obese foolhardy voyeuristic frottage obsessed ER Doc Neil (Josh Gad) whose mother Roberta (Carol Kane) has no clue about her son's debilitating condition. The three men – Adam, Mike, and Neil - interact in needy ways and each faces a crisis he must address: Adam finally meets a girl to whom he can possibly relate, breast cancer survivor Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow); Mike must deal with his son Danny's return to the nest; Neil becomes tied to Dede (Pink) who is a sex addict of the first order and desperate to change. It all works in at times confusing ways, but always with a focus on the fragility of the addicted human being – no matter the source of dependency.The film has its light moments, but it is certainly more of a drama than a comedy – except for the fact that 'all of life in the human comedy.' It is good to see a capable group take on a controversial subject and deliver it well.