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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 4513
Released: November 27, 2007 |
| Our Price: $7.43 |
| Used Price: $2.01 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Don't miss writer/director Adrienne Shelly's sweet, sassy comedy about the power of friendship, motherhood and second chances, starring the radiant Keri Russell who serves up "a hilarious and heartfelt performance" (Rolling Stone).
Description of Waitress (Widescreen Edition):
Much like the films of Hal Hartley, Waitress is funny in a deadpan sort of way, but a sadness lurks below the surface. After making a splash in Hartley's The Unbelievable Truth and Trust, Adrienne Shelly turned to directing with Sudden Manhattan and I'll Take You There. Set in a small Southern town, her third picture revolves around waitress Jenna (Felicity's radiant Keri Russell), who works at Joe's Pie Diner (Joe is played by Andy Griffith). Jenna is the pastry genius who makes Joe's joint shine. Her co-workers include the forthright Becky (Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and insecure Dawn (Shelly). All three have man trouble, but Jenna has it the worst. Her husband, Earl (Jeremy Sisto, Six Feet Under), treats her like a piece of property. When she finds out she's pregnant, Jenna fears she'll be stuck with him forever. Then, she develops a crush on her married obstetrician, Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion, Serenity). With the aid of her fanciful confections, like peachy keen tarts, their flirtation develops into a full-blown affair. It appears to be a no-win situation, but Shelly finds an empowering way to bring this bittersweet story to a close. If the candy-colored conclusion plays more like fantasy than reality, it's a fantasy worth embracing. Sadly, Shelly was murdered before Waitress ever saw the light of day (leaving behind a husband and child of her own). Fortunately, her final film is far more life-affirming than morose, although it does end with the word "goodbye." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Beyond Waitress
Food Films | 
More from Adrienne Shelly | 
More from Fox |
Stills from Waitress Waitress (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
Breezily sweet 
2009-10-30 - The Bottom Line:
Keri Russell is cute and spunky and Nathan Fillion is adorably awkward as the object of her affection, so it's rather a shame when the movie falls back on dumb stock characters like Keri Russell's selfish pig of a husband (ever notice how many attractive, smart, and nice women in movies are dating complete jerks?) and doesn't try for anything greater than a fairly standard, albeit rather successful, romantic comedy formula; ultimately Waitress is as sweet as the pie the plot focuses on, but not very filling.
2.5/4
One of the worst movies to date... 
2009-10-07 - Now, I have a wide taste in movies; I'll watch almost anything and find something good about it.
Not so for 'Waitress'.
I watched the movie because I'm a huge Nathan Fillon fan, and because there were quite a few good reviews for it. In hindsight, I should have stuck with my original reservations that if a movie is based around pies it's either tacky or superficial.
The plot is non-existent, the characters are flat and the whole movie is emotionally unsatisfying. I honestly found it hard to sit through the whole movie and finish it. As it was, I took frequent tea breaks to stop myself simply throwing the disk in the trash.
Excellent Thematic Comedy: Pies & Lies 
2009-10-01 - This film makes a very serious reality into a very funny episode. The harsh reality is that there are pregnant women who for diverse reason are unhappy to be with child. The film takes us into the life a woman who's trapped in an abusive marriage and feels that having a child with her husband will make it hard to leave him. Her only dream is to use her love of pie making a glorious event: winning a pie contest. Pies in all their richness are the "happy place" of our lead character, so we have as treats the yummy goodness of elaborate pie making in many scenes. Diverting her emotions she has an affair with her new doctor. In this movie, we how her emotions change from unhappy to happy to guilty. The end is a happy one and as in all good comedies, there is a moral and the heroine regains her dignity. God bless the beautiful people who make movies, especially Adrienne Shelly who brought redemption to those who live such a controversial social issue.
Snuggle On The Couch Together Pie
2009-08-23 - There is just something about this film, WAITRESS, something indefinable that I can't quite put my finger on. WAITRESS is a surprisingly delightful film, and my husband and I really enjoyed watching it. This is definitely a great "snuggle on the couch together" movie.
WAITRESS is the story of Jenna, a waitress in a small southern pie shop in a small southern town. Jenna invents and bakes delicious, original pies (for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert), all with crazy names, like I Hate My Husband Pie, Earl Murders Me Because I'm Having An Affair Pie, Marshmallow Mermaid Pie (invented when she was 10), Bad Baby Pie, and Falling in Love Pie, all which reflect what is happening in her life at that moment. Jenna is unhappy in her marriage to her abusive husband Earl, and has discovered she's pregnant. Things get complicated and heated and even funny when she falls for her new doctor and he falls for her.
WAITRESS is charming and poignant; it runs a gamut of emotions. It is a relaxed, lazy film that slowly unfolds as layers of taste, texture, and intrigue are added. Kerry Russell shines as Jenna, breathing life and love into the character. Nathan Fillion is enchanting as Dr. Pomatter, her quirky, loveable doctor, bringing more than his typical charming self to this role. The other cast members, including writer-director Adrienne Shelly, bring realism and warmth to WAITRESS. And the cherry on the top of this scrumptious pie is Andy Griffith as Joe, the curmudgeonly owner of the pie shop, who grudgingly dispenses advice, wisdom, and poetry, but is really an old cream puff deep down. Joe has a true affection and respect for Jenna, and he does what he can to help her overcome her lot in life.
Sweet, fun, touching, and vibrant, WAITRESS is an unexpected movie that draws the audience in from beginning to end. You care about these characters and want what is best for them. And what is best may surprise you. WAITRESS is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Too Many Missing Ingredients
2009-08-16 - Like the pie "recipes" on the voiceover - three diverse ingredients tossed in together do not make an edible pie, or an easily digested movie. This movie is a combo of Mel's diner in the old Alice TV show, a bunch of skits ala Saturday Night Live, and a handful of stereotypical characters - dreadful abusive husband, curmudgeonly old codger, wisecracking co-worker friends. Add to that the huge "ick" factor of a pregnant woman having an affair with her ob-gyn, and there you have it, a recipe for a disappointing film.
The cavalier way this movie depicts marriage is a shameful. The ob-gyn is supposed to be a nice guy but he's having pity affair with his patient. We get one glimpse of his intern wife in the hospital - why would he cheat on her? Do they have some sort of arrangement?
Fans of Keri Russell may be tempted, but are advised to look elsewhere. This movie leaves a bad taste.
