Director makes romantic, touching film about sex addiction

Starring Alison Brie, Jason Sudeikis, Jason Mantzoukas, Andrea Savage and Amanda Peet. Directed by Leslye Headland.

Rated R for strong sexual content, language including sexual references, and some drug use. Check listings for theaters. 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Bottom line: Makes a dark topic funny and romantic

Writer-director Leslye Headland makes thoroughly modern romantic comedies that capture all the anarchy and agony of 21st century love and its attendant rituals. Her feature debut, “Bachelorette,” depicted a wild and wooly pre-wedding bacchanal of party hardy mean girls, which dove into the complications of female friendship and competition. Her latest film, “Sleeping With Other People,” just might be the most romantic and touching film about sex addiction ever.

For Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis), sex is their smack, and they just can’t stop going back for another hit. Lainey has panic attacks over the unavailable sociopath Matthew (Adam Scott), her only relief a text or call or quickie in his office. Jake, on the other hand, plows through women with abandon, refusing to care at all — the opposite of Lainey, who cares too much.

Having lost their virginity to each other during a college tryst, they reconnect some 12-odd years later at a sex addicts meeting (led by an outlandish Billy Eichner). By keeping their budding friendship non-sexual, it eliminates the chance for those bad habits they’ve acquired to creep in, but has the unintended effect of creating an environment where true intimacy can flourish. And it’s plainly obvious to anyone with eyes: This flawed, funny pair is perfect together.

Headland makes films about terrible, terribly likable people. But she genuinely loves her characters — generous enough with them to offer room for redemption. It’s these deep wells of empathy that lift these naughty comedies out of cynicism to something greater. The bravest moments are when the film reveals its big, warm heart, which has been shrouded by sarcasm and silly sex jokes.

The script for “Sleeping With Other People” is laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish, the lightning fast dialogue, speeches and quips aided by a stellar comedic cast.

As a director, Headland embraces the camera as a tool to enhance the story, particularly Lainey’s inner experience: a swirling, vertiginous camera mimics the head spin of running into an ex, while a heart-pounding chase puts us in her shoes. While Sudeikis brings the comedy, Brie is the emotional center of the film, and she manages to wordlessly convey much of Lainey’s anxiety and heartbreak.

“Sleeping With Other People” is that rare film that takes a topic as dark as sex addiction and makes it funny, romantic and genuinely moving. Headland’s work ultimately argues that flawed people deserve love and happiness too, especially if they are willing to fight for it. That this life-affirming message comes wrapped in a sexy and hysterical package is just the icing on the cake.