Touch Me

I enjoyed "Touch Me". It was cast beautifully. Michael Vartan and Amanda Peet have great on-screen chemistry. I had not heard too much about the movie until I saw it on Oxygen. I was surprised that it was a theatrical release; it seemed like a Lifetime or Oxygen made movie. To tell the truth, the only reason I watched it was because I love Michael Vartan but in the end, I loved it! It made me realize how valuable and short life really is and that we should live life to its fullest. My only complaint was that I did see it on television, and the commercials really made it difficult to tie the different elements together; the movie had many very short scenes. I need to rent it and watch it all the way through, with no interruptions; but overall, I loved it.

Touch me is a very interesting film as it takes on the topic of aids in a sympathetic and sensitive manner. Indeed, the first third of the film looks just like a listless stock t.v. romance. The film is distinctly clunky along the way and the substance of Vartan's character is the same as that of the Cutty Sark.

But where the film really starts to kick in and grab you, is when Peet's character finds out she might be infected by a previous boyfriend. This subverts the misguided stereotype that Aids is not a heterosexual issue and takes us into new territory. People in films want to see something new, something truthful and this film does this. Wow, what a challenging role this is for Amanda Peet to take on, few actors would have done this role. The somewhat cheesy romance is put on the back burner which is for the better while we focus on Peet and her experience of trials and tribulations of medical examinations and support groups.

The way the support group is introduced is terrific and the acting of the members of the group is great, particularly Irene Cara (remember her?) who is really ballsy. Peet's character was isolated but now is no longer alone. After passing through every possible tortured emotion, she reaches some kind of acceptance of her condition. Vartan's character loves her and has learnt there is more to life than money.(Cheesy, but hey)

If someone thought they might have aids or who knew someone who did, and they saw this film it would be of great benefit. And this is why this movie is worth seeking out.

I was browsing through the television listings when I found "Touch Me" listed as the Oxygen network's afternoon feature film. After learning that the film is a drama starring Amanda Peet and Michael Vartan, I was interested in seeing these actors perform in more serious roles than I am used to seeing them portray. They thrive in these roles. In their journey of becoming lovers, Peet (who plays an aerobics instructor and working actress) and Vartan (who plays Peet's boss at the gym she works at) are faced with social issues concerning commitment, drug abuse, betrayal, and the HIV virus. The movie teaches you that although people may appear destined for one another, there are serious hurdles they must face that make love even harder to fight for. Overall, this film was beautifully acted and brought me to tears at least five times. "Touch Me" is both moving and educational. It instills a ray of hope that people will be more accepting of friends and family that are faced with hardships in their lives. The film demonstrates the actors' range and promise in Hollywood. Most importantly, it teaches you how you must protect yourself from social dangers.

I saw this in health class, like most of the films shown on the Lifetime network. I thought it was a TV movie, but it turned out to be a theatrical release. I had never heard of it before then, so I just sat back and watched. I hadn't heard of Amanda Peet until "Jack and Jill", so I was surprised that I hadn't recognized her. Fans of the WB network may recognize Leslie Bibb's cameo towards the end. This movie was a decent one, it just didn't seem like one to be released theatrically.

I've just watched this movie on YouTube in April, 2025. As a male, I can't resist that face of a young Amanda Peet.

But more seriously, it is now about 25+ years since HIV Positive (and even AIDS) stopped being a death sentence. This movie was made right about the time the ART drug cocktail started effectively turning the corner. So, it served as a poignant reminder to me there was a time it was almost always debilitating and frequently fatal. That alone makes it worth watching to be solemnly reminded of that.

The romance is not Hallmark, but rather a trial and tribulation version. Amanda Peet and Michael Vartan deliver well on both the chemistry and simultaneous angst of romance under the scripted circumstance. I would have liked more time scripted for their interaction as a couple, especially at the end. But, overall, a poignant story, and a chemistry-correct romance under a trying circumstance.