Sydney Film Festival 2013 - Film Review - Thanks For Sharing

Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow - Thanks For Sharing

Film director and screenwriter, Stuart Blumberg and an experienced and diverse cast, including Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins, Pink and Josh Gad, bring an unusual comedy topic to the screen with a warm, witty screenplay. The story line follows a group of people who join a support group for sex addiction. There is also a nod given in the film to other addictions which affect people's lives such as drugs and alcohol and this interplays as a sub plot. The general outline of the film follows Adam (Mark Ruffalo), who has reached the 5 year mark in controlling his urges and is ready to consider dating and a relationship again. He meets the attractive but wary Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow), a cancer survivor who has previously experienced a relationship with an alcoholic. Adam's sponsor in the support group, Mike (Tim Robbins) has his own problem to confront through his now recovered drug-addicted son returning home. A newcomer to the group is Neil (Josh Gad) a doctor whose addiction is destroying his hard worked-for career in medicine. The group is completed by Dede (Pink) whose life and relationships are being ruined by her own addiction. The film has many funny moments as well as scenes which confront the issue of addictions in whatever guise they come. The overall message is one of hope and life affirmation.