Sharp Stick

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Sharp Stick

R

Released Jul 29, 2022

1h 26m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth) is a sensitive and naïve 26-year-old living on the fringes of Hollywood with her disillusioned mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and influencer sister (Taylour Paige). Working as a caregiver and just longing to be seen, she begins an exploratory affair with her older, married employer (Jon Bernthal), and is thrust into a startling education on sexuality, loss and power.

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Critics Consensus

A series of promising ideas lost in scattershot execution, Sharp Stick stands as a disappointing setback for writer-director Lena Dunham.

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Alison Herman

The Ringer

Even as Sharp Stick deals with extremely adult material, it adopts a purposeful innocence that makes Dunham’s latest work less counterintuitive than it might seem.

Oct 11, 2022

Full Review

Scott Tobias

The Reveal (Substack)

Even when Dunham seems intent on driving them all into a narrative ditch, it’s worth the rubbernecking.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 3, 2022

Full Review

Chandler Levack

Globe and Mail

It’s nearly impossible to make anything good when the internet is telling you to kill yourself on a daily basis. The fact that Dunham persists is accomplishment enough.

Aug 16, 2022

Full Review

Annlee Ellingson

CineWomen

As confounding as the character’s quirks are ... what follows is a sex-positive journey of self-discovery that’s a sweet as it is explicit.

Jul 29, 2024

Full Review

Steve Morrissey

Radio Times

While the plot stretches plausibility, Dunham knows how to write a great scene, and the sexual meet-cute between Sarah Jo and Josh is about as grimly hilarious as they come.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 31, 2023

Full Review

Mira Fox

The Forward

Beyond attempts to plumb the depths of Dunham’s psyche, it’s hard to figure out what to make of “Sharp Stick.” It’s visually stylized and compellingly strange, but it’s not clear what, exactly, it’s trying to challenge.

Rated: D+

Aug 2, 2023

Full Review

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CC

Refreshing and captivating

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/22

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Andie

I thought that this was a very current, relevant, relatable, and honest coming of age during a pandemic story. The characters were very well developed and the music was great too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/01/22

Full Review

MB

Hilarious in many and unexpected ways with strong performances by a well cast ensemble. Froseth leaps off the screen and Bernthal is perfectly (and yet loveably) cringy. Dunham uniquely captures porn through a female lens - and thanks to Speedman, I want a Vance LeRoy sequel!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/22

Full Review

Steve D

I found it all really gross.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Bob

Kristine Froseth has finally learned how to blow (up a pipeline).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

Cila D

It's been a long time since I've seen a movie this awful oml.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

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Lena Dunham

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Kristine Froseth

Sarah Jo

Jon Bernthal

Josh

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Synopsis

Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth) is a sensitive and naïve 26-year-old living on the fringes of Hollywood with her disillusioned mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and influencer sister (Taylour Paige). Working as a caregiver and just longing to be seen, she begins an exploratory affair with her older, married employer (Jon Bernthal), and is thrust into a startling education on sexuality, loss and power.

Director: Lena Dunham
Producer: Lena Dunham, Michael P. Cohen, Kevin Turen, Katia Washington
Screenwriter: Lena Dunham
Distributor: Utopia
Production Co: FilmNation Entertainment, Good Thing Going
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language Throughout|Drug Use|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 16, 2022
Runtime: 1h 26m

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