DVD Review: ‘Touchy Feely’ is too fuzzy

This indie slipped by rather quickly in the fall, lost among a glut of releases. It’s the fifth feature from Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton, who gained attention with “Humpday” (2009) and “Your Sister’s Sister” (2011).

The POV switches around within a group of people, a family and their friends: Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt, who also starred in “Your Sister’s Sister”) is a massage therapist, who suddenly finds herself repulsed by the slightest physical contact with anyone else. Her brother Paul (Josh Pais) manages to attend to his elderly dental patients, but otherwise seems awkward to the point of Asperger’s. Since the patients are dying off, his daughter, Jenny (Ellen Page), decides to boost her dad’s business by publicly suggesting that he has healing powers.

“Touchy Feely” isn’t quite a comedy; it’s...comedy-ish, and neither as funny or likable as “Your Sister’s Sister.” The lack of focus — perhaps an attempt at an Altman-esque structure — works against the generally good cast.

The visual style was workmanlike on screen, and the Blu-ray reproduces it accurately. The best of the extras is the commentary track with Shelton, DeWitt and Pais; we also get about 10 minutes of outtakes and deleted scenes, as well as half an hour of separate interviews with Shelton, Pais, and cast members Allison Janney and Scoot McNairy.

“Touchy Feely” (Magnolia Home Entertainment, Blu-ray, $29.98; DVD, $26.98)

--
ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on “FilmWeek” on KPCC-FM (89.3).