After a series of embarrassing incidents caused by her drinking habit, Kate decides to get sober with the help of a coworker and a sponsor from Alcoholics Anonymous.

The script was partly based on Burke's own experience of giving up alcohol at a young age, since she felt that her narrative had not yet been told on film.

After some time, Kate speaks at an AA meeting, celebrating one year of sobriety, while Charlie gets in trouble for riding a bicycle while drunk.

[3] Some of the story's details were based on Burke's own experience; she was a heavy drinker until she was 24 years old, when she started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

[7] Casting negotiations for the film's main roles—played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer and Nick Offerman—took place in September 2011.

[8] To prepare for her role, Winstead talked with Burke about her recovery and attended a variety of AA meetings, where she spoke with other young women who had gotten sober.

[1][12] It was shot on a $500,000 budget, which was sourced by producers Jonathan Schwartz and Andrea Sperling of Super Crispy Entertainment from independent financiers, including Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf.

[14] Sony Pictures Classics bought the film's distribution rights after its premiere at Sundance and gave it a limited release on October 12, 2012.

The site's critical consensus reads, "Smashed resists the temptation to play up its serious subject matter for high theatrics, opting instead to let its gentle tone and Mary Elizabeth Winstead's marvelous performance carry the day.

[19] Variety critic Justin Chang commended Smashed for its "sheer emotional generosity" and Ponsoldt and Burke for their optimistic and sympathetic approach to the story.

[20] Stephen Holden of The New York Times praised the film's neutral and unsentimental tone and its "refus[al] to indulge a voyeuristic taste for ... sordid details".

[21] Similarly, Empire magazine's James White commended the film for avoiding clichés and condescension "by combining a light, frank, comic touch with real emotion and weighty, human performances by all those involved", and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

[23] Michael O'Sullivan, writing for The Washington Post gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, likening it to "a dramatic public service announcement" rather than an insightful narrative.

[24] Slant Magazine's Chris Cabin also opined that the story was underdeveloped and that the film "offers a cheap and easy sort of inspiration in lieu of genuine inquiry" into the recovery process of alcoholics.

[25] Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle did not find the film to be insightful, writing that the filmmakers were "preaching to the choir" with their portrayal of alcoholism and recovery.

[27] Rolling Stone's Peter Travers described Winstead's performance as "unmissable and unforgettable", praising the comedy and intellect she simultaneously brought to the role.

[28] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle felt that Winstead was striking as Kate and speculated that Smashed would prove to be "the doorway to great things" in her career.