Sharp Stick Review: Froseth's Stellar Performance Saves Dunham's Clunky Script
At the height of the epidemic, isolation and quarantines were commonplace for many hollywood professional artists. After an 11-year sabbatical, writer-director lena Dunham used the same solitude to ponder and produce her most recent film, Sharp Stick. With her latest film, Dunham delves into female needs in a framework free of judgment, returning to the big screen to once again contribute her voice to feminism with regard to sexual emancipation and emotional development. But something prevents the story from reaching its full potential. Sharp Stick is endearing because of excellent performances, but the uneven narrative falls short of its potential.
Sarah Jo, a gullible 26-year-old played by Kristine Froseth, lives with her mother Marilyn (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and sister Treina (Taylour Paige). Sarah Jo starts an affair with her older coworker josh because she longs to be noticed and is tired of her humdrum routine (Jon Bernthal). Sarah Jo, however, is forced to make her own decisions about what it means to be sexually liberated and autonomous when things change from being straightforward and cozy to toxic. She'll just have to go through the process of loss, bafflement, and heartache.
Of course, there are still issues. Sarah Jo always turns to males for reassurance and sexual liberation. This makes sense conceptually for any heterosexual woman seeking novel and exciting experiences. But Dunham's audience also has a significant request for her. She wants the audience to think that the character is severely stunted and uninformed about anything having to do with sex. However, Sarah Jo has a support system in Sharp Stick in the form of her mother and sister, two women who are more than happy to have these conversations — to the point where they routinely pop up in conversation at the drop of a hat.
When Sharp Stick isn't drowning in a never-ending sea of confusion, the cast's outstanding performances keep this thinly plotted movie afloat. Froseth shines as the naive Sarah Jo with charm and exquisite focus. She is engaging and compelling at all appropriate times. As to be expected, Paige steals the show and puts up a spectacle that is impressive enough to transcend the flaws in her character's limited backstory and character development. Finally, Bernthal turns in a strong performance that can hook viewers just on the basis of suspense. Although Bernthal's character isn't particularly complicated, he has the talent to reveal a character and captivate people simply by his interactions with his scene partners.