After crafting the impressive Humpday and the even-more-impressive Your Sister’s Sister, we were very much looking forward to the Sundance premiere of writer-director Lynn Shelton‘s next film, Touchy Feely. Unfortunately it was one of our disappointments of the event, saying, it’s “a slightly more ambitious, far less successful, project from Shelton” and adding, “the ambition gets lost somewhere amongst this large and talented cast,” while the director retreats “to some worn plot contrivances in the third act.” Featuring what is indeed her largest ensemble yet, including Rosemarie DeWitt, Ellen Page, Allison Janney, Josh Pais, Scoot McNairy, Ron Livingston and Tomo Nakayama, the first trailer has landed today and one can see it below, along with the poster.
TOUCHY FEELY is a closely observed examination of a family whose delicate psychic balance suddenly unravels. Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt), is a sought after massage therapist and a free spirit, while her brother Paul (Josh Pais) thrives on routine and convention, running a flagging dental practice and co-dependently enlisting the assistance of his emotionally stunted daughter Jenny (Ellen Page). Suddenly, transformation touches everyone. Abby develops an uncontrollable aversion to bodily contact, which not only makes her occupation impossible but severely hinders the passionate love life between her and her boyfriend (Scoot McNairy).
Touchy Feely arrives on VOD on August 1st and hits theaters on September 6th.