Sticky: A [Self] Love Story

Sticky: A [Self] Love Story, directed by Nicholas Tana, is a charming and provocative documentary that premiered in 2016, offering audiences a humorous yet insightful exploration into an extremely personal - and surprisingly universal - matter: masturbation. While the subject is one that's often labeled taboo in a number of cultures, this movie breaks conventional barriers to present an open and honest dialogue around a topic that affects virtually everyone in some way.

Sticky: A [Self] Love Story stars several eclectic personalities like Denise Acosta, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and the British comedian Ant, which lends to its vibrant narrative. The movie's heart lies in its interviews, where these characters and many more share their often comedic and sometimes deeply poignant experiences and thoughts on self-love.

Tana's ambitious journey with this movie takes him across history and various cultures, digging down into the psychology, physiology, history, and cultural ramifications of masturbation, all while dishing out light-hearted humor and unexpected revelations. Each section is cordoned off to delve into different aspects of the theme, making this documentary visually engaging, easily digestible, and genuinely interesting.

Denise Acosta, a registered nurse, lends an important voice to the conversation, discussing the undeniable biological and health aspects that fall within the realm of Masturbation. Her expert insights and straightforward approach highlight the importance of cultivating a less stigmatized, more educated understanding of the practice.

Boxing icon Muhammad Ali's involvement adds an entirely different layer to the narrative, focusing more on the societal aspects and the varying perspectives on masturbation that exist within different communities and lifestyles. His genuine, charismatic appearance counterweights the documentary's strong comic dimensions, bringing a sense of gravitas.

Indeed, one of the documentary’s strengths is its use of a diverse cast representing various professions, lifestyles and beliefs, all brought together by a single common topic. Critics, doctors, and celebrities offer up entertaining anecdotes and quirky facts while discussing a subject that few of us dare to venture into, creatively balancing between the serious and the lighthearted to maintain audience engagement.

The British comedian Ant is the lighthearted heart of the film, infusing it with humor. His quirky narration and candid approach make for an intriguing mix, adding a provocative and amusing lens to this immensely personal theme. His presence in the film helps to push conversations around this typically taboo subject matter into more accessible territory, which is ultimately one of the movie’s central goals.

Yet perhaps the most notable accomplishment of Sticky: A [Self] Love Story is how it takes a subject often shrouded in shame or embarrassment and manages to create a thought-provoking, amusing and sincerely educational piece of cinema. It's a daring, cheeky and oddly charming exploration of a topic so universal yet so rarely discussed.

The film successfully uses multiple angles - from historical, cultural, and medical perspectives to personal narratives - to address this issue. While the movie is laid back in nature, it never shies away from this serious and introspective moments either.

Sticky: A [Self] Love Story is much more than its provocative title suggests. It’s a candid, comedic, and cleverly constructed documentary that tackles a universal theme from multiple perspectives - not to mention it's certainly one of the few films that manages to take a subject normally whispered about and talks about it in an understandable, approachable, and even funny way. It's a testament to Nicholas Tana's directorial prowess that such a profound yet relatable story is spun from what many would consider an embarrassing topic.

Overall, the film is a well-produced piece of entertainment, combining humor, charm, and genuine insight to tackle a universal theme in a way that's far from conventional. With an assorted cast of compelling characters and an intriguing subject matter at its heart, Sticky: A [Self] Love Story promises to engage, entertain, and perhaps even educate viewers about an essential aspect of human life that is often left undiscussed.