Thanks for Sharing won't be for everybody, but if you're up for it, you'll get to see an incredible performance from Mark Ruffalo. If you're not up for it, go ahead and pick something else. You can pick any number of his other movies to see a great performance. This one deals with sex addiction, and it's very informative and revealing.
As Gwyneth Paltrow's character says when she learns her new boyfriend (Mark) has a 30-day chip in his pocket, "Isn't that just something guys say when they get caught cheating?" Most people don't understand how sex addiction truly transforms a person. After watching Mark Ruffalo, you'll understand. There's a particular scene where he lets sexual thoughts overtake him, and his face contorts so much he becomes a different person right in front of your eyes. It's scary, but it's a true testament to what a great actor he is. He's different in every single movie he makes, from 13 Going on 30 to Shutter Island. In this film, he makes you understand how difficult it is to abstain from sexual temptation when it's ever-present in advertising, fashion trends, movies, the internet, and at the forefront of modern relationships.
There are representatives of many different types of people who attend the meetings. Tim Robbins is Mark's sponsor, someone who's licked his addiction for years and has a healthy, meaningful relationship with his wife Joely Richardson. Alicia Moore (also known in the singing world as Pink) is a newcomer who recognizes her self-destructing patterns but doesn't know how to change. Josh Gad is another newcomer who doesn't take his recovery seriously, but instead lies about his progress.
You can imagine how heavy this movie is. It's not titillating, and it doesn't glamorize the problem. It's a rare, frank exposure of a problem not many people understand. And I know I haven't complemented him enough, so here's one more: Mark Ruffalo is a remarkable actor.
