Puccini for Beginners

Puccini for Beginners (2005)

  • 51% of critics liked it
    (63 reviews)

  • 44% of users liked it
    (670 ratings)

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 been involved with Samantha (Julianne Nicholson) for some time, but Allegra just isn't willing to… More

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Unrated,
Directed By
,
Genres
Romance, Art House & International, Comedy, Special Interest
In Theaters
Feb 2, 2007 Wide
Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

  • Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

    Fresh Manhattan locations prove as photogenic as the leads, and the supporting actors -- especially Tina Benko as a glacial, impeccably dressed amazon -- don't miss a beat of Maggenti's snappy dialogue.

  • Tom Long, Detroit News

    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.

  • Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

    There is pleasure and even insight to be had in Puccini but it all feels second-hand, and therefore, of questionable provenance.

  • Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

    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.

  • Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

    Has a likable smartness to it; like a good Woody Allen film with a gay twist.

Read all 17 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jim H


    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… More

  • Alice S


    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.

  • Walter M


    [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… More

  • Leo L


    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… More

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