Putzel

At times farcical, at times whimsical, PUTZEL is always true to itself. Walter (Jack Carpenter) is a young man grappling with his future. Paralyzed by both a familial legacy and his own neurosis, he struggles to achieve security and a clear path to happiness. Sally (Melanie Lynskey) presents an attractive yet thorny alternative to those expectations - but at a cost. In the end, freedom will come if only if he is able to - forgive me for this - swim against the tide. John Pankow's performance as the uncle continues to deepen in my memory. New York's Upper West Side gives an uncredited major performance. All principles are well cast but the secondary roles - Armando Riesco, Adrian Martinez, Jarleth Conroly, Steve Park - are delightful and nearly flawless. (A hilarious scene with Fred Berman will have to be kept hidden from his family.) Hard to believe it was shot on such a low budget. Definitely worth checking out - a modest gem.

Putzel is a film which demonstrates that with love and the right amount of courage, you can break free from your metaphorically familial and mental shackles to reveal the person you are truly meant to be.

Through the keen directorial skill of Jason Chaet paired with Rick Moore's quirky, sensitive and a tiny bit raunchy writing, you find yourself deeply engrossed in a love story that is rarely seen nowadays. It is a tale with true heart and soul acted beautifully by the likes of Jack Carpenter, Melanie Lynskey, John Pankow and Susie Essman. And to top it all off, it is set in the historic and world renowned Upper West Side of Manhattan! What you find in the end is that there is a little bit of Putzel in all of us. We have our faults and our strengths and this film helps you decipher between the two. So get together with some friends and family, have a nosh and go see Putzel. You'll be glad you did!

Saw the premiere of this at Woodstock Film Festival. A tremendous heartfelt comedy with an incredible ensemble cast. Jack Carpenter (Putzel) is an incredible young talent and John Pankow really knocks it out the park as his Uncle Sid. If you've ever enjoyed Melanie Lynskeys hilarious character on 3 1/2 Men, you will really enjoy her playing a real life complex character in this movie. If you are looking for something light-hearted with a poignant message served by terrific actors - this is the movie for you. I also learnt so much more about Lox than I ever knew before! Looking forward to what else Jason Chaet and Rick Moore bring to the screen.

If, like me, you've bemoaned the lack of character-based, pathos-filled, and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny relationship comedies lately, then Putzel will come as a welcome breath of whitefish and lox-scented air. With all the bite and heart of the best Billy Wilder movies, director Jason Chaet tells a story of dysfunctional romance and blighted dreams, set entirely within the delivery radius of an old-school, family-owned Manhattan deli. The stakes have never been higher for Walter "Putzel" Himmelstein as he gamely attempts to manage an uncertain future, a wildly egotistical uncle, an irrational phobia, and a deli counter, which all finally comes into focus for him when a ballet and fish-loving shiksa goddess played by the always great Melanie Lynskey plies (plee-ayys?) into his life. There's bona fide laughter and tears here, and it all comes in a witty, Manischewitz-soaked punch.

No 3-D, CGI effects or robot monsters, but an unlikely superhero of sorts. PUTZEL is a charming throw-back to the simple art of storytelling. In an era of big budget movies, this indie rom-com is a breath of fresh air with a positive message - sometimes the scariest risk delivers happiness on a platter (maybe even on a "harry" platter;) Jason Chaet & Rick Moore bring a wonderful modern day Upper West Side fairytale to the screen. A film with a lot of laughs and moments where you find yourself "verklempt". Great, great ensemble cast! Stand-out performances by: Melanie Lynskey, Jack Carpenter, Steve Park, favorites John Pankow and Allegra Cohen. Also, Susie Essman breaks out of her normal character type and displays some solid acting chops. If you like to laugh, cry, and eat smoked fish, then throw on a "tank top" and see this movie!!!