Thanks for Sharing

The thing about movies about addiction and recovery is that, yes, you can infuse the pathos with humor; it's been done well before, but THANK YOU FOR SHARING doesn't hit the bar. While it has much to recommend it -- including the chance to see Pink do the finest acting job in a cast peppered with more experienced thespians -- there's really nothing charming about the criminality of some sex addicts. Gad takes on the difficult role of Neil, a doctor who's in the Sexaholics Anonymous program because it's mandated by a court but is shown continuing to indulge his criminal urges (upskirting, for one). But the movie depicts him as still redeemable -- as well as funny and charming enough to become the story's underdog hero. The tonal misfire grates. As do the missed opportunities, including the unexplored dysfunction of Paltrow's character -- at one point, a character makes a wise point about partners examining what they bring to a table, but the subject matter is dropped. Too heavy, perhaps, for a movie striving for laughs?

Robbins' storyline with his son (played to a crackling brilliance by Patrick Fugit) fares a little better, but Fugit is wasted here. So much more could have been said and done had the movie spent more time with him and Adam ... instead of trying to make us laugh and like Neil, maybe. That said, Ruffalo does make Adam the heart of the movie. He's wound so tight and is so committed to doing no wrong that when he's unable to hold his center, we can't help but weep for him a little bit.