I'm somewhat shocked at all the stunningly glowing reviews for this film and how hauntingly similar they all are. I don't think the market is the only thing that smells fishy!I went to see this film because it had been pushed as a positive film for the Jewish community. If this is positive for the Jewish community, then Blacula is the ultimate African American role model. OK, I'm being harsh, but it really wasn't a very good film.The lead character, Putzel, was every bad Jewish stereotype available. But played in such an ineffective way as to not really matter. Like most of the characters in the film, you never really care about him. They all have frequent emotional outbursts, but they only seem to be because the script said emotional outburst. Melanie Lansky is a great actress wasted on this poorly written script. She is deeply distraught about something, but her dialogue doesn't give you a clue. Again, it seems to be a stage direction.I think the core of the problem was a cookie cutter script. It was like a mad-libs version of script writing. It couldn't have been more exact formula in any other way. A then B then C then D. Just like teacher said. Since this is the first and last thing the screenwriter has written, lets hope it's a high school kid following a pattern he found online.It was not bad because it tried too hard, or not hard enough, or was too anything. It was bad because it was bland, pallid, and went nowhere. Don't waste the time. If you want to visit New York, see Smoke, or 100 Cigarettes, or ANYTHING else.

A friend invited me to a screening of Putzel in New York City, I had no idea of what I was going to see, the plot, or the people in it. However as soon as it started the movie grabbed my attention, and here's why: Im not from the states and I had been living in New York for a short time, but that was not a inconvenient because the storytelling was so sharp and universal that I felt identified with the characters and situations, it spoke about community, success, facing your fears among many others, besides being hilarious throughout the whole movie. I loved the subplots too because (without giving much away) usually those minor characters are weak in movies but in here they were my favorites, performances with No stops. It was a sudden but pleasant experience that my friend shared it with me, and now I would like to share it with my friends. GIve it a watch if you have the chance.

A friend of mine brought me to see a screening of Putzel back in 2013 in New York and I'm not a huge fan of independent movies. I prefer major motion picture more, personally. I assumed this to be just another indie, but I was delightfully wrong and enjoyed Putzel far more than I anticipated. It was hysterically sweet, packed with a bunch of killer one liners that my buddy and I still say to each other. The quality of it was surprisingly well done and looks no different than any other big named movie. If you're looking for that classic, Woody Allen kind of love story (with some lox jokes thrown in), then Putzel is what you should watch and you don't have to be Jewish to like it! And I'll be sure to get it when/if it comes to DVD.

Friends, this quirky piece is absolutely relevant and a joy to watch. I had the pleasure of seeing it at a special viewing here in NYC and "funny" does not cut it -- Putzel warms your heart, tears it apart, and warms it all up again, all the while centered around a tiny fish and bagel place. Warning: it will make you crave New York-style bagels, particularly if you haven't had one in a while. Whether you're Jewish or not, or from Manhattan or not, this film is sure to be a new indie go- to. To top it off with surprising performances by some of our generation's favorites, it will have you continually pointing to the screen saying "Omg! That guy! Yes!"