Touched (I) (2005) User Reviews (13)

Jenna the drama actress

[Ana_Banana · 6/10 · 8 December 2005]

It seems as this movie was made for Jenna (who is also an executive producer of it, remember). In fact, she is the leading performer here, and her character is the one that keeps the story going and evolving. Too bad that the script and perhaps the editing have some flaws, which I won't discuss here (just see the movie and enjoy it - as much as possible). And there are some inconsistencies in the characters, including Jenna's.

But all in all it's a refreshingly different kind of a movie than the bulk of ordinary Hollywood products. If your idea of a "movie" is "The Lord Of The Rings", you would fall asleep while watching "Touched": it's sad, it unfolds slowly, it's dark (I mean few lights), and quite quiet (btw, how's that sound, "quite quiet", he he?).

I have been curious about this movie, and again, Jenna is a very good actress, not just a wacko comedy blonde chick. Just watch carefully her dramatic performance here and admire how she really, really saved even the lamest melodramatic moments. Forget about "Dharma & Greg", "Looney Tunes Back In Action" and stuff like that, Jenna still has to get the role stimulating enough and fit to her talent.

Corny, Predictable and Extremely Melodramatic

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 24 August 2007]

After a car accident, the lawyer Scott Davis (Randall Batinkoff) loses his young son and enters in a deep coma for two years. Along this period, the dedicated nurse Angela Martin (Jenna Elfman) treats the patient and feels an attraction for him. When Scott awakes, he feels his body numb and has visions of his son and his father hires Angela to aid Scott. They fall in love for each other, but Scott does not let his son go and falls in coma again.

"Touched" is a corny, predictable and extremely melodramatic story supported by the gorgeous Jenna Elfman. The unbelievable plot is actually a soap opera with excessive personal dramas in the parallel stories of Scott and Angela's brother, and the final twist after the death of Scott is awful. I like to see movies of the actress Jenna Elfman and the story is also romantic, therefore my vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Páginas de Uma Vida" ("Pages of a Life")

Jenna Elfman's character

[melvin-1 · 6/10 · 20 August 2006]

This movie's story is not what I am commenting about it is Jenna Elfman's development from being typecast after 'Dharma & Greg'. She really carries the story and shows her in a new light. I don't we will see her in another sitcom now. Now the story about a female nurse and her male patient falling in love. Now if there had been more substance to the story it would have been better. At the end I even think more should have been added to a possible future of Scott and Angela being together. Jenna's character was a miracle to Randall's character being a caring soul that stayed where his wife did not even try and wait. His son told him to let go and 'touch' the one that really loves him now.

Sappy, unbelievable and very sloooooooowwwww

[Screen-7 · 4/10 · 26 February 2006]

The plot is horribly sappy and painfully slow. And I even like tear jerkers! I have absolutely no medical training but I can't imagine the this story being medically possible.

But those long long long face shots give you lots of time to admire Jenna Elfman's marvelous face. I have to wonder if this movie was made to prove that Jenna Elfman can do serious drama. Well, she can! But, what she really needs is a movie that shows off her considerable range.... funny, sexy and serious.

This movie shows her as sexy and VERY serious. VERY VERY serious.

The supporting roles are unmemorable and the plot is just plain taxing. The production values are fine although the movie is just drowning in patina.

But if you love Jenna Elfman, as I do, you'll want to see her in "Touched" since you just can't get enough of that face.

The only way this film could be more slow would be to play it in reverse.

[adoraburl · 1/10 · 7 August 2006]

This is a terrible film, although the lighting is nice and some of the furniture is quite stylish. The plot, or to be more specific, premise, is absurd, the dramatic pauses are chasms, and the piano score drowns out the whispered and banal dialog. This is a soap opera film -- the type that usually requires several hankies -- but you'll find yourself shredding Kleenes out of boredom, and spending more time looking at your watch then the screen. Yes, the female lead is lovely. Put her naked in a zombie movie. THe male lead appears as if he escaped from daytime TV, and is none too happy about it. The actor who looks like Ed Begley Jr isn't Ed Begley Jr. Oh, there are two "music video" sequences that went out with "Play Misty for Me." I thought this film might be a pleasant romance with fantasy overtones -- the fantasy was all mine.

EncouragingTo My Heart

[praisesong3 · 10/10 · 20 August 2006]

I found this movie very encouraging to me, as I have too suffered a tremendous loss in my life...the suicide 11 months ago of my 29 year old daughter...having suffered a loss similar to the people in "Touched" the empathy & persevering compassion of the lead girl in this film is so edifying...it really is hard to find a reason to keep living, keep going on, and even though the tempo of the film was 'slower' than normal, that is really representative of how time and life seem to pass for me...somehow the nurse's presence & help seemed to nurture my heart as well. I personally feel like the lead character did, helpless & hopeless, and the path to recovery (I'm not there yet) is slow slow slow, has setbacks, and only is possible with the love, presence, and faithfulness of friends or family.

I really tried to like this one

[skooshie · 5/10 · 18 November 2007]

I mean I REALLY tried to like this one. I am a sucker for romances( and I mean sucker)and Jenna Elfman can be a great comedic actor but she doesn't seem to be giving it her all in this drama. Randall Batinkoff is just beautiful. Samantha Mathis sings really well and is usually pretty good in these types of movies and then there is the now seemingly ever-present Bruce Davison. With a cast like this you would think what a winner. Sorry it just didn't happen. It's a romance for crap sake and you just don't feel it for anybody. Why does she care? Why does he like her so much? No tension no spark and why did Jenna keep putting her hand over her mouth at the end? If it was to stop herself from screaming I could understand that because I know I wanted to. I mean if you have 90 minutes to waste (and I mean waste) feel free to watch but if you are expecting anything other than something to waste that time with don;t bother.

Two Thumbs Up!

[Dolfin505 · 10/10 · 11 September 2006]

Without a doubt, I was absolutely touched by this movie. It really hit close to home for me due to my mother passing away while in a coma. After reading previous comments, I see that people don't understand why certain things were even included in the movie. For instance, the situation with her brother. However, I think if you or someone you know has been through such a tragedy....you realize even more just how precious life is and how it can end at any minute. That is the reason that I believe that specific story line is included in the movie. It goes along with the theme. I was crying throughout the entire movie...It really touched my heart. I, like many others I'm sure, believe that I was meant to see this movie for a reason. I lost my mother in February and to this day.... do not feel the loss getting any easier to cope with. I still grieve every single day....and I was recently told by a friend that I needed to let her go in peace. To hear what the little boy said to his dad about letting go...let's just say I could have filled a bucket with tears! Anyhow, long story short...I was so impressed with the movie and the actors. I plan on buying it.

I can't really say why I liked it

[Mitiori · 8/10 · 20 November 2005]

This script (or its editing) was saved by a combination of great acting by Randall Batinkoff (the reason I watched this film in the first place), Jenna Elfman and Bruce Davison; the good camera work; and moving music.

And by a totally surprising ending. I won't say more about that.

Jenna Elfman's character is a very sad person. A life full of tragedy and depressing mundaneness. I can't fault the rabid Scientologist's performance, I think it was technically very good in a moment by moment measure. Appropriate tears, thoughtful movements, the whole nine yards. But I never felt that the character was doing anything more than delivering lines and emotions - which, again, she did very well. There was no cohesiveness to the character or her back story. One moment apathetic and depressed, one moment suffering while painting a wall she never finishes (yawn and took too much time from story development - someone thought they were making a music video) and in the next delivering a witty line that jarred you right out of the character - a line that could have been delivered without JE's famous comedic timing and in the same emotional state that the character had the rest of the movie. There were also things the character did that did not seem consistent with the scene before - I'm not sure if that was editing or writing - I suspect both. There were many scenes and moments where JE had no lines, which saved the character from being totally annoying. There were also a few other stories that the character tied together, but again not cohesively (did that guy survive the heart transplant? What was the point of the brother?) Ultimately, the character was the movie's linchpin and she served in that capacity well.

Randall Batinkoff's performance was excellent, but he was not in this story enough. That was because his tragedy was meant to highlight something about JE's character. I can see that his acting has gotten even better than it ever was - and he's just as attractive as ever. I really hope to see him in more meaty roles in the future.

Bruce Davison, also given short shrift in appearances, did very well with what he had. The parallels of the loss of his character and Randall's was something I really appreciated.

I love Samantha Mathis. Love her in everything she does. I'm just not too sure why she was in this movie. I enjoyed seeing her, but again her character was more of a prop for JE than anything. I kept wanting more from her.

This is a well done Lifetime movie. Better quality and different mood than most. A good couple of hours on a weekend.

Wow, just wow....

[rick-594 · 9/10 · 19 November 2005]

I've only recently become a huge fan of Jenna's and when I saw this come up on the TV program guide, I jumped on it...

As a parent who lost a child at an early age, this movie rang so true to how we deal with loss and try to find a way to come out from underneath it all.

If you have ever lost a child, or have ever had to deal with anyone in a long term coma, you should watch this movie.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a guy, but I cried like a baby for hours after watching this one. I would strongly suggest watching with a friend, spouse, or loved one...

Wishing

[dncnintherain · 10/10 · 2 September 2006]

This movie was written beautifully. You don't just come across a movie that shows such sorrow and hope and faith and compassion and passion in a way that you can truly feel and live and smile and look at your life in a new way and reflect on your past. The actors/actresses were able to tap into the truth of what they would have felt or what the character may have really been like. It is common to have each of those types of characters in a stressful true situation as this.The mom, well, I have seen my own relatives turn into someone like her yet this mom has compassion and and a strength that some people that rather stand back and watch has. I watched with my eyes in tears as I seen each of the characters as what my family had gone through.It was nice to reflect. The music was well chosen and the scenery purely fitting.I haven't researched what the music is or if it was written just for this movie, but to watch the girl sing and the moment and memories that were made was a great factor in this movie, it went very well hand in hand. I do wish that the story of the brother was more. Just because of after the surgery and what type of the surgery(perhaps i should see what all the cut out sometime). Times to reflect what happened and what was felt helped this movie along. I wish there was more of this movie, just in the sense that I would want it to keep on going. To be real life I suppose. A lot of real life issues made me enjoy this movie for the real worth, for the real story, for more than a movie.

I thought it was very good!

[flege8 · 12 April 2020]

I watch the movie maybe once a month!! It is very touching to me!! I would really like to know happened to Scott after the movie was over?? Did he marry his nurse and is he OK?

as consolation

[Vincentiu · 14 December 2013]

it is not easy to understand it if the experiences of characters remains out of your personal circle. because it is a common romance. the acting is decent. the story can be perceived as unrealistic of too pink. in fact, except few scenes, it is image of a hard ordinary situation. many cases who have only deep silence for describe their case. sure, Touched is a commercial version but the story, the basis of story is the same. short, a film who has not as essence the artistic virtues. but the role of medicine for many of its viewers. and this fact is important. the candied, thin sheet of story, the not great but not uninspired performance of actors, the frame of fight, the use of romantic ingredients and, maybe, with indulgence, the end.