Elizabeth Reaser,
Justin Kirk,
Gretchen Mol,
Jennifer Dundas,
Julianne Nicholson
... see more 
A woman who loves opera finds herself playing a romantic version of musical chairs in this independent comedy from writer and director Maria Maggenti. Allegra (Elizabeth Reaser) is a writer who has be... read more
DVD Release Date: July 3, 2007
Stats: 89 reviews
A lesbian on the rebound begins dating a man and a woman who have, unbeknownst to her, recently broken up.
Most of this film clips by at a great pace, and some of Allegra's lines, like "Those who break up with me usually earn my life-long devotion," are quite funny. An... read more
Elizabeth Reaser is lovely, complicated, and adorably clueless. Aspects of this movie echo Annie Hall: random strangers doling out romantic advice, eccentric fantasy like the sentient answering machine. Insightful commentary on sexuality and gender.
[font=Century Gothic]In "Puccini for Beginners", Allegra(Elizabeth Reaser), a writer, has just been dumped by her girlfriend, Samantha(Julianne Nicholson), for not being able to commit. At first, Allegra is depressed at being alone but soon meets Philip(Justin Kirk), a philosoph... read more
Great movie!! Absolutely hilarious story plot. Intriguing. Here's a story of one woman who struggles to embrace relationship and commitment. Fearing those but wanting love and desire is one thing, but when she loses her girlfriend then she tries to find a semblance in replacing i... read more
Title had potential, but it seems like the same amount of effort was not put into the rest of the movie.
Suunds like a good twist for an interesting movie, but unfortunately none of these actresses can pull off a lead role, which leaves the film lacking. -Trev
Reaser really doesn't stand a chance. She's plucky as heck, and you like her despite the script, but she can't save the movie. Full Review
There is pleasure and even insight to be had in Puccini but it all feels second-hand, and therefore, of questionable provenance. Full Review
Puccini for Beginners doesn't quite make it as romantic comedy. Most of the elements are in place, but the characters seem too narcissistic to fall in love and too broad-brush to be authentic. Full Review
It's no fun to sit through the movie's retread Woody Allenisms, including postmodern repartee among the self-absorbed or giddily neurotic and passing strangers suddenly given to ironic Greek chorus-li... Full Review
Puccini for Beginners is littered with witty dialogue, although some of it is so obviously scripted that it can become off-putting. Full Review
There's a drag on this film, and that's the character of the protagonist, Allegra. She's just not a nice person, which could have been OK, except it seems as though she's supposed to be. Full Review
It may not be the real world of New York, or even of most relationships, but it's worth a visit.
Proving that a movie called Puccini For Beginners actually can be as deeply pretentious as its title implies, Puccini For Beginners attempts to pick up the torch once carried by Woody Allen for the ro...
The movie offers a charming view of a small-town Manhattan where strangers constantly give Allegra romantic advice. Though that device is a little too indebted to Woody Allen, at least Maggenti does A... Full Review
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