The conclusion is satisfying and even a little surprising, as Russell proves a delightful leading lady, and Andy Griffith almost steals the show.
Waitress (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:160
Fresh:142
Rotten:18
Average Rating:7.3/10
Consensus: Sweet, smart, and quirky, Waitress hits the right, bittersweet notes through this romantic comedy through its witty script and a superb performance by Keri Russell.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for language, drug use and some sexual content
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:10-08-2007
Synopsis: An audience hit at the Sundance Film Festival, WAITRESS serves up a sweet, sassy and delicious slice of life tale -- as it reveals the power of friendship, motherhood and the willingness to take a... An audience hit at the Sundance Film Festival, WAITRESS serves up a sweet, sassy and delicious slice of life tale -- as it reveals the power of friendship, motherhood and the willingness to take a chance. It's the story of a small town woman who transforms her hopeless life into a hilarious and unexpected love story. This vibrantly different romantic comedy is the final film from writer-director Adrienne Shelly. Starring in the title role, Keri Russell (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3, THE UPSIDE OF ANGER) leads a dynamic cast as a diner waitress stuck in a lousy marriage whose only solace is baking out-of-this-world pies. When the awkwardly charming new OB-GYN, Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion, SERINITY), comes to town, she's inspired to mix-master her life into something far more satisfying. WAITRESS will surely do for pie making what SIDEWAYS did for Pinot Noir. As a favorite waitress at Joe's Diner, Jenna (Russell) is also a "pie genius," naming her tantalizing confections after the tumultuous events and emotions of her daily life. She's hoping that one of her pastries, like her "Kick In The Pants" Pie, might even change her life – if she can just win that $25,000 pie contest. But when Jenna discovers that she's pregnant, she immediately bakes an "I Don't Want Earl's Baby" Pie – a quiche of egg and cheese with a smoked ham center. After all, her husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto, THIRTEEN, SIX FEET UNDER) is a jealous jerk that is essentially a child himself and the last thing they need to do is start a family together. But the pregnancy eventually changes the course of events in her life, giving her an unexpected and newfound confidence via letters to her unborn baby. WAITRESS also stars Emmy® nominee Cheryl Hines ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," RV) and Adrienne Shelly (THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH, TRUST) as Jenna's quick-tongued fellow waitresses along with classic television star Andy Griffith ("The Andy Griffith Show," "Matlock") as the curmudgeonly Old Joe of Joe's Diner. Fox Searchlight presents a Night and Day production of WAITRESS, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. The producer is Michael Roiff and the executive producers are Todd King, Jeff Rose, Danielle Renfrew and Robert Bauer. The behind-the-scenes talent includes director of photography Matthew Irving (WAITING, DALTRY CALHOUN, NORTHFORK), production designer Ramsay Avery (TEAM AMERICA), editor Annette Davey (SORRY, HATERS) and composer Andrew Hollander (GRAY MATTERS). --© Fox Searchlight Pictures [More]
Starring: Keri Russell, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion
Starring: Keri Russell, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith, Eddie Jemison
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Screenwriter: Adrienne Shelly
Producer: Michael Roiff
Composer: Andrew Hollander
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Reviews for Waitress
no amount of quality service can cover up a slice of life that has been so overbaked.
One-liners like that come thick and fast in this bittersweet, whistle-stop romp, with Shelly almost always managing to undercut her syrup with something more stringent.
Irreverently funny, with a cast of characters that go together like homemade pie and ice cream.
A brilliantly written, acted and directed romantic comedy that is funny, insightful, heartwarming, original and highly satisfying.
...just another in a growing list of recent films where all the women are wonderful, understanding, and long-suffering while the men are louts.
If you recall the long-running TV series "Alice," you'll pretty much be revisiting familiar territory. Sadly, though, no one belts out, 'Kiss my grits.'
Whether or not one should take one's significant other to see it is questionable, because the character of Earl will put a damper on the romance to follow. Still%u2026
Shelly pens dialogue that has both sass and a down home country matter of factness. She conveys the camaraderie amongst the women with warmth and humor.
we're left with a moral message that it's OK to cheat on your partner as long as they're boring, brainless or vegetative
A young filmmaker whose life met a tragic end has served up what is bound to be one of the most sumptuous movies of the year.
[Writer-director Shelly's] characters are at the same time comfortably familiar and unpredictable. Her script is big-hearted and life-embracing, but still unsentimental.
Artistry and motherhood merge - dreamily and lusciously. Food has rarely been photographed as lovingly as it is here, or written about as lyrically.
Adrienne Shelly has borrowed from her Jenna and taken familiar sitcom ingredients to fashion her own special dessert treat.
Even with its flaws, WAITRESS is a fitting tribute to the quirky independent spirit that Shelly brought to so many projects. It also hints at what might have been and that makes it all the more heartbreaking.
Waitress combines the sensuality of food-as-love flicks Like Water For Chocolate and Chocolat with Scorsese’s diner classic, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
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