Waitress (2007)

This Movie Is About: Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell who is in a rut. When I say a rut I don't mean like a bad day and that she needs to do something to turn it around. This kind of rut is one of those life long ruts that there is pretty much no way to get out of. She is married to pretty much the worse guy in history. You'll hate him in the first five seconds you see him. Other than that, she's working at a pie shop in some small town and the only friends she has is these two girls Don, and Becky who are also not really happy with their lives. The only upside for Jenna is that she's a pie genius. That is, she makes the best pies the world has ever seen. She invents pies in her head as a way to escape from the harsh realities of life. Just when she thought her life couldn't get any worse, she finds out that she's pregnant and no matter how many pies she bakes, she can't get over the fact that she's carrying the child of a man she hates. Life couldn't be any worse for Jenna until she meets her doctor, Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion). The two start up a unusual relationship to say the least and all the pies in world isn't going to get Jenna out of this mess.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: the characters are some sweet. When I say they're sweet by no means do I mean this is a cute movie. In fact, Jenna is probably the most life-hating bitch you will see on screen. Which makes sense if you see her husband. This is countered by Dr. Pomatter who is the sweetest person you will ever see and the fact that he is everything Jenna has ever wanted in a man really sets up a situation where there is a lot of drama. The issues of true love VS. real life responsibilities is something we all think about and a real problem for many people and this movie captures that essence and puts it into a story where it's entertaining to watch but also easy to get emotionally attached.

What's Hot: The pies themselves are clever and even though I have not tasted pie or a pie fan in general, they do capture Jenna's frame of mind. And sure, some people may think that this is a device to get some inner monologue in there, but it works because that's who she is. It also makes sense because all she wants to do is enter the pie baking contest and win her future. Makes sense to me. The characters that surround her add that extra layer to the movie as they all have their own ways of dealing with life's problems and all have their separate stories which intercut with Jenna's. Overall, it's a very satisfying experience.

What's Not Hot: Jenna's husband, Earl, is such a bitch that it sometimes gets annoying to watch. I mean, you want a good antagonist and he is that but sometimes they went over the top with him that it's bordering of unbelievable. But that is just something minor and perhaps a personal thing. The climax and how things ended is a bit undeserved and a bit out of the blue. The resolution makes sense and it creates a positive feeling but I just felt that it needed a bit more time to get to where it ended. It's not a big deal but because this movie did such a good job making this character appealing and me getting so emotionally attached, I wanted her to over come more of a obstacle in the end.

Last Comments: Waitress takes a small town girl in a small town with small problems in comparison to some of the other epic movies out there and brings it to the common people. The comedy is apparent in the set up and Jenna has that endearing quality you can't help but fall in love with. Everything wraps up a bit too nice in the end but it's expected for this genre. I wish people give this movie a look especially for people who enjoy these kind of movies because it can really be a surprise hit for some!

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.0 (Adrienne Shelly)
Direction: 7.0 (Adrienne Shelly)
Acting: 8.2
Cinematography: 7.0
Music/Sound: 6.5

Entertainment Value: 7.8 (not an average)