Thanks For Sharing - Addiction = Terrifying

Before watching this movie, all I knew was that Marvel characters Hulk and Pepper would be making out in this movie, which is interesting given that Iron Man and Hulk are sort of sharing the same girl.

Thanks For Sharing tells the story of three main characters all having come into contact with a sort of sex addiction. Adam, played by Mark Ruffalo, a man who has gone off sex addiction for quite some time trying to find a date, Mike, played by Tim Robbins, an older man also off sex addiction who is dealing with family struggles at home, and lastly Neil, played by Josh Gad, a younger man who still struggles with sex addiction and lies to the program that he needs to get off court regulations.

Right off the bat, I think that this whole sex addiction thing is sort of believable in the sense that it virtually could be any addiction. Watching the trailer, I thought that this sort of thing was a joke, but I believe because of the emotions that mainly Adam and Dede, played by Alecia Moore, convey through their actions.

Progressing through the movie, we see how each of these situations change, more relationships causing more feelings between the three. We start to see Mike's situation get better when family collides with influence. We start to notice Adam's progression in his relationship with Phoebe, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Plus, we start to see Neil seeking a sort of haven with the group.

The story starts to seem less about the whole sex addiction thing and more about addiction in general. How gruesome the addiction can take over people and force them to tick. I feel like there is a lot of imagery about the burst of something. The music as Neil is heading to the support group. Adam being secluded in his room with the need of the removal of the TV, refraining from telling Phoebe about his addiction. Also Mike's constant back and forth with his son Danny, played by Patrick Fugit.

I really like Tim Robbins' character Mike, the man who knows all and is one because of his experience behind almost everything. He is the savior for all of the addicts that he comes into contact with every day, the main pipeline between Adam. He is the wise one who gets caught up in this serenity of a newly-formed family.

One of the wisest things I've heard about addictions is that to get rid of one habit, you have to adopt a new habit in order to rid yourself of that latter habit. I think that this is clearly shown in this film, that Adam needs Phoebe to make sure he can regulate his sex life in the way that he likes, Neil needs Dede in order to build a friendship that he can finally be proud of, and Mike needs his son in order to build a relationship and finally be at peace.

The tensions feel real in the movie. When circles come into contact with other circles, things can get pretty tense. I feel like the only safe havens can happen when everything is in order; when this order is out of whack, that is when the tensions begin to escalate.

On the flip side, I do have to say that the character that Neil is is very static. I mean, I feel that he's only in this movie for that sort of comedic element. While the other conflicts may be occuring, there is some happiness on Neil's side. This sort of drama element tries to be in contrast with the comedic element, which sometimes isn't appropriate for the sake of the movie.

I have to say that Mark Ruffalo does not express a true emotion in my eyes. Even when his conflict goes off the fritz, it seems that Mark Ruffalo looks like the same Mark Ruffalo, minus the music and dark shades of clothing. That imagery towards the ending regarding Mark Ruffalo doesn't hit home like I'd like it to.

All in all, this movie makes you feel good. It's not exactly the best movie of all time, but it's a good place for the director to start.

I give this movie a 4/5.