Sharp Stick
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Sharp Stick
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sharp Stick is a very mature coming-of-age film written and directed by Lena Dunham. It centers on Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth), a 26-year-old woman who has a sexual awakening after starting an affair with her employer's husband. Expect explicit sex scenes, nudity, and very strong language, including both swear words ("f--k," "s--t," and more) and sexual terms ("anal," "d--k," etc.). Characters also smoke pot, drink, and snort cocaine, and there's an allusion to domestic violence. Viewers who find orifices, body parts, and/or sexual acts distasteful may find it difficult to watch.
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What's the Story?
SHARP STICK tells the story of Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth), the mousy sister of outgoing Instagram celebrity Treina (Taylour Paige). Sarah Jo learns about sexuality and attraction as she embarks on a relationship with Josh (Jon Bernthal), the husband of her employer, Heather (Lena Dunham, who also wrote and directed the film). As their relationship progresses and fizzles, Sarah Jo is determined to understand more about where she fits in with sex, relationships, and personal discovery.
Is It Any Good?
A young woman striking out to learn more about herself and her sexuality is the core of a good story, but if you're easily put off by explicit sexual content, then it's not for you. And even if you're OK with the more graphic scenes, Sharp Stick disappoints by defining its Black characters solely through sexuality. Given Dunham's iffy history with how she portrayed (or didn't portray) Black people on Girls, it's clear that she's trying to make up for it here -- but she still falls short.
Dunham's hard-core fans will enjoy watching Sharp Stick to see her eccentricities coming through in the script. And the actors, including Froseth, give strong performances. It's just a lot to ask of some audience members to sit through a ton of sex that has little artfulness or beauty involved.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sarah Jo's personal growth. How does she mature during the film? Would you consider this a coming-of-age story?
How is sex portrayed here? How does it factor into Sarah Jo's life and personal discovery? Parents, talk to your teens about your values regarding sex and relationships.
Did you notice any positive diverse representation in the film? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 29, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: August 16, 2022
- Cast: Kristine Froseth, Lena Dunham, Taylour Paige, Jon Bernthal, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Director: Lena Dunham
- Studio: Utopia Films
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong sexual content, some nudity, language throughout and drug use
- Last updated: July 30, 2022
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