Touchy Feely
Directed by Lynn Shelton
Starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Josh Pais, Ellen Page, Allison Janney and Scoot McNairy
In UK Cinemas May 16th, 2014
by Joanna Orland
Reviewed at the 2013 Sundance London Film Festival
Touchy Feely was Lynn Shelton’s return to Sundance in 2013 after her hit film Your Sister’s Sister proved so popular that ticketholders were getting turned away at the door due to overcapacity. Once again starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Touchy Feely is a lovely dramedy exploring anxiety, identity and family.
The script is mediocre, but the performances and directing strengths are what give this small film a full life. Rosemarie DeWitt isn’t the true star here, but rather it’s the rest of the cast that give heart to this film, notably Josh Pais who plays dentist Paul, an uptight, emotionally stunted brother to Rosemarie’s Abby, and father to Ellen Page’s Jenny.
This film isn’t ground-breaking or a revelation of any sort. It is just a lovely watch and character study with performances being the key selling point. Especially in the scene where uptight Paul finally meets Reiki healer played by the always wonderful Allison Janney. This scene alone is worth the trip to the cinema.