Sharp Stick

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Sharp Stick

R

2022

1h 26m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

37%

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

10/11/2022

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.

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Scott Tobias

The Reveal

10/03/2022

3/5

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

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Chandler Levack

Globe and Mail

08/16/2022

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.

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Anna Hoang

Boston Hassle

07/20/2025

2.5/5

If I came to watch a movie called SHARP STICK directed, produced, and written by Lena Dunham, I will certainly see a movie called SHARP STICK directed, produced, and written by Lena Dunham.

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Annlee Ellingson

CineWomen

07/29/2024

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.

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Steve Morrissey

Radio Times

08/31/2023

3/5

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.

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CC

08/12/2022

Refreshing and captivating

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Andie

08/01/2022

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.

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MB

07/30/2022

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!

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Brett E

@slaaar Apr 4

Not really sure what this movie was trying to do or where it wanted to go. The acting was good and the initial premise was promising, but it just didn’t go anywhere and was definitely not a comedy.

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Scott E

@RT19581245 Dec 23

Started off sweet and good, but got nastier and nastier until by the end it was totally gross.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 29

Funny in 1 hour and 26 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Nudity, Language Throughout, Drug Use and Strong Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lena Dunham

Director

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