Usually stories about addiction look at those attached to alcohol or drugs. 2012’s Thanks for Sharing follows a different topic, though, as it looks at those obsessed with sex.

We go to New York to visit folks who work through the 12-step process to deal with their sex addiction. Adam (Mark Ruffalo) benefits from the help of sponsor Mike (Tim Robbins) and just reached the five-year mark in his recovery.

Neil (Josh Gad) recently joined the program and hopes to gain Adam as his mentor, but issues impact that relationship. In addition, Adam meets Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow), a potential love match, but his addiction complicates that situation.

That synopsis implies a dominant focus on Adam, but Thanks spreads the wealth. We do spend a bit more time with Adam than the rest, but the movie also gives nearly equal time to the stories of Mike and Neil.

Because these three roles follow fairly different tonal paths, Thanks can feel like three different movies packed into one – and packed into one not particularly well-integrated film. All three share drama to some degree, but they diverge in other ways.

Without a doubt, Mike’s tale comes with the most serious tone. In a happy long-term marriage to Katie (Joely Richardson), he contends with the return home of his ne’er-do-well druggie son Danny (Patrick Fugit).

That adds the film’s most serious layer, especially because Mike’s side brings a subplot related to Charles (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), a friend with his own issues. Though not entirely devoid of levity, Mike’s scenes become darkest.

On the opposite side, Neil acts as comic relief. Of course, he gets his drama as well, but with Gad in tow, it comes as no surprise that Neil’s addiction receives a treatment that leads to the movie’s sporadic stabs at laughs.

Somewhere in between we get Adam’s narrative. That one feels leans toward romance, albeit with some melodrama.

And Thanks pours on its stabs at emotions. Granted, this happens with all three plots, but the Adam story goes farthest in that regard because it can’t leave well enough alone.

Really, Adam’s tale should just focus on the complications he encounters when he attempts a relationship for the first time in years. However, Thanks feels the need to pour on unnecessary baggage.

Not only does Thanks make Phoebe a breast cancer survivor, but also it throws a snarl due to her refusal to date addicts of any sort. This leads toward inevitable confrontations and Big Emotions.

Some of the time, Thanks feels like it wants to deliver a PSA about sex addiction, and that seems fine – to some degree, at least. Obviously this subject doesn’t receive the attention other addictions do, so it makes sense for us to get some exposition there.

However, Thanks can grind to a halt to provide these messages. This damages the general narrative movement.

If the character elements worked better, I wouldn’t mind the Morris the Explainer bits. Unfortunately, Thanks spreads its net too wide and fails to explore its characters/circumstances well.

Again, the film integrates the three main roles in an awkward manner, and none of the segments feels especially true to life. As noted, we wind up with an awful lot of melodrama, and the end product feels clumsy.

At least we find a strong cast. All do their best and add some depth to the proceedings.

They just can’t elevate a thin script that relies too much on weepy melodrama. Thanks lacks self-confidence and turns into a lackluster character piece.

Thanks for Sharing appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. Expect a positive presentation.

Overall sharpness seemed solid. A couple of wide shots looked a smidgen soft, but those were the exception to the rule, as the majority of the flick was accurate and detailed.

No issues with jagged edges or shimmering occurred, and I noticed no edge haloes. Source flaws were absent, as the movie looked consistently clean.

Thanks gave us a teal-oriented palette, with some amber as well. Within those parameters, the hues were positive.

Blacks seemed deep and dark, while shadows showed good smoothness and clarity. I felt happy with the transfer.

In regard to the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Thanks, I couldn’t find much to stand out as memorable. I expected that, though, since I wouldn’t anticipate a wild experience from this sort of character drama.

The soundfield focused on the front spectrum, and music presented the most prominent element. The score showed good stereo imaging, and we got general ambience – mainly from street scenes - but that was about it.

When the surrounds played a part, I they added environmental reinforcement and nothing else. This was a low-key experience.

Audio quality was fine. Speech sounded distinctive and natural, without edginess or other issues.

Effects didn’t have much to do, but they were acceptable for what they offered. Music appeared full and rich. There wasn’t enough here to merit a grade above a “B-“, though, so don’t expect a memorable soundtrack.

As we shift to extras, we find an audio commentary from writer/director Stuart Blumberg and writer Matt Winston. Both sit together for this running, screen-specific look at story/characters, their working relationship, cast and performances, sets and locations, music, editing, and connected domains.

On the positive side, the track offers some decent notes, and long-time pals Blumberg and Winston offer an easy-going connection that makes the chat an enjoyable listen. However, the discussion too often devolves into basic narration, a factor that limits its usefulness.

One Step at a Time goes for 15 minutes, 19 seconds. It offers notes from Blumberg, Winston, producers Leslie Urdang, Miranda de Pencier, David Koplan, Dean Vanech and William Migliore, and actors Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins, Joely Richardson, Patrick Fugit, Alecia “P!nk” Moore and Josh Gad.

“Step” covers story/characters/themes, Blumberg’s approach to writing and directing, cast and performances. Expect a few insights alongside a bunch of happy talk.

Seven Deleted Scenes occupy a total of nine minutes, 49 seconds. Some extend existing sequences, while others offer minor character bits. Nothing memorable appears.

A Gag Reel lasts two minutes, 39 seconds and shows the usual goofs and giggles. It brings nothing special but it’s short enough to become inoffensive.

The disc opens with ads for Friends With Kids, I Love You Philip Morris, Much Ado About Nothing (2012) and Girl Most Likely. No trailer for Sharing appears here.

We get a fine cast with Thanks for Sharing but not much else about the film seems notable. The flick relies too much on cheap melodrama and rarely feels honest. The Blu-ray comes with solid visuals, appropriate audio and a mix of bonus materials. Thanks doesn’t tank but it nonetheless fails to explore its subject matter in a satisfying manner.