Ryan McNeil
On the surface, WAITRESS is a movie about life, love, and loss in a small middle-America town. Below the crust though, it touches on the sadness of people who find themselves stuck in a rut they gradually slipped into…and now long to climb out of, if only they could figure out how. You could call it a romantic-comedy, but it isn’t exactly what I’d call a romance…nor tremendously funny.
The movie stars Keri Russel as Jenna, a waitress and pie maker at a small town diner. Pregnant, and unhappily married to a hick named Earl (Jeremy Sisto), she finds solace in baking delicious pies with inventive names (“Bad Baby Pie”, “Kick in The Pants Pie”). As if on cue, she meets a kindred soul in her new doctor (Nathan Fillion). Caring and attentive, he is everything Earl isn’t. As their affair grows, Jenna begins to discover a new sense of self-worth and independence she thought she’d lost long ago.
The movie is rounded out by a strong supporting cast, including Andy Griffith, Eddie Jemison (who will make you laugh in every one of his scenes), and writer/director Adrienne Shelly.
In a tragic twist, Shelly was murdered before the film debuted…cancelling out what may well have been her big break. Her movie is tender and honest, and reminds the audience that no situation is hopeless when you have passion to create, and friends to lean on.
While I do recommend you watch this movie, I further recommend that your pantry is fully stocked when you do so. There is a lot of talk and scenes revolving around Jenna’s pies, so to say you’ll get hungry watching this movie is an understatement. Bon Apetit!