Full Body Massage (1995)

Touches You

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Nina (Mimi Rogers) is a tough art dealer and gallery owner. She is expecting her regular weekly massage from Douglas and is surprised by substitute Fitch (Bryan Brown). She's annoyed but accepted the unexpected change. He's a new age thinker with varying experiences like from the Hopi Indians. She's a driven single woman. They talk about their past relationships and philosophies as flashbacks are shown.This is a long meandering conversation. It doesn't really move anywhere. There isn't a narrative or a plot. It's simply two characters talking about their lives. For some people, the biggest point is a naked Mimi Rogers. Otherwise, it's hard to see any point to this. The production is more late-night erotica than an artistic journey. I would have liked stories that are less philosophical and more compelling.

If the point and main interest of this movie was intended to be the philosophic conversation, then Mimi Roger's bare breasts were an unnecessary distraction. I couldn't for the life of me give my attention to what they were talking about when her bare body gave me so much else to think about. And how Bryan Brown was able to concentrate on his acting whilst massaging her voluptuous breasts and body is a wonder to me. Mimi Rogers must be quite comfortable with her body and quite fearless in being willing to subject it to the close scrutiny of cinema audiences. But I'm somewhat disappointed in her. She's such a good actress that I would have thought such a soft-porn movie was beneath her.

Contrary to most of the other lay reviewers, I am a serious student of holistic health practices, esp. eastern traditions- and I was not looking for much gratuitious sex...although the nudity was o.k. I thought Brian Brown did a good job (and apparently he has had some training in massage) -I thought the acting was good, and I liked the way that the "dilemma" of sexuality vs. health treatment was handled.Mimi Rogers, always a treat for the eyes, was believable as a conflic- ted yuppie with good taste, inquiring mind, and hungry libido. I have recommended this film to others who are massage/holistic health buffs. It would not appeal to many people who are just looking for spicy sex, however.

This occasionally interesting film has a number of good qualities, but frequently I found that the never-ending conversation wasn't very interesting. This was a very relaxing film to watch, thanks in large part to the constant massaging. Unfortunately, with much of the dialogue being somewhat dull, I found myself getting sleepy at times. Therefore, it was a bit of a hassle trying to stay awake through the film. Sometimes, the conversation was enjoyable, and certainly Mimi is nice to look at, but I can't recommend any film when it is this easy to fall asleep while watching it.