Jenna (Russell) does not want to be pregnant. She sits in the changing room with her coworkers / best friends, Becky (Hines) and Dawn (Shelly) praying that the test will be negative...but the prayers are in vain. Not only was this pregnancy unplanned, the father is a man she does not love...her abuse and needy husband Earl (Sisto). Jenna works at a pie shop and makes inspired pie creations. She is happiest when she is creating a new kind of pie (with exciting names like "Pregnant Miserable Self Pitying Loser Pie... Lumpy oatmeal with fruitcake mashed in. Flambé of course") and serving one of her old standbys.
Even though she is not interested in having a child, she immediately goes to her doctor for a thorough check up. To her surprise, her usual doctor is replaced by the young and attractive Dr. Pomatter (Fillion). Dr. Pomatter is the opposite of Earl, and they begin a secret relationship...which is complicated because of her pregnancy and the fact that he is also married. Through his medical advice, and a gift from her friends, Jenna begins writing letters to her baby. While everyone speculates about the sex of the baby (her friends think girl, Earl is convinced boy) and gets excited, Jenna is not happy and starts all of her letters "dear baby" and is quite frank about her feelings about her pregnancy, the baby's father, and other related events. Also adding color to the story is the owner of the pie diner Jenna works at, Old Joe (Griffith). Old Joe is difficult, but he likes Jenna, and they have an unusual friendship.
After watching this film, I was hungry for pie...and wanted all of Jenna's recipes (including "Earl Murders Me Because I'm Having An Affair Pie... You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust" and "I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong And I Don't Want Earl To Kill Me Pie... Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana").
The film does not disappoint. Keri Russell makes the audience relate to Jenna while still keeping her anger and vulnerability real. I was not as familiar with her career as I was with her love interest: I love Nathan Fillion (he was in Firefly!!). He is great as the doctor, charming but still incredibly quirky. Cheryl Hines and director Adrienne Shelly add humor as Becky and Dawn respectively. They each have relationship developments during the course of the film, but they stand out when they appear with Jenna. It is sad to watch Dawn and know that actress/director Shelly was killed several months ago...
Overall a great film. The beginning is a little jarring, but once you get a little into it (and understand why Jenna is so upset about being pregnant with her husband's child) it really works. And there is a sort of poetic justice at the end...satisfying!
Dude, it's quotable: just look at the names of the pies...amazing!
Rent it: definitely an adult film...it may be a little film, but it has a lot to offer and a lot of heart. Stellar performances and lots of pie loving!
Waitress (2007) 108 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, language and thematic elements.
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Starring: Keri Russell as Jenna Hunterson
Nathan Fillion as Dr. Pomatter
Cheryl Hines as Becky
Jeremy Sisto as Earl Hunterson
Andy Griffith as Old Joe
Adrienne Shelly as Dawn
Even though she is not interested in having a child, she immediately goes to her doctor for a thorough check up. To her surprise, her usual doctor is replaced by the young and attractive Dr. Pomatter (Fillion). Dr. Pomatter is the opposite of Earl, and they begin a secret relationship...which is complicated because of her pregnancy and the fact that he is also married. Through his medical advice, and a gift from her friends, Jenna begins writing letters to her baby. While everyone speculates about the sex of the baby (her friends think girl, Earl is convinced boy) and gets excited, Jenna is not happy and starts all of her letters "dear baby" and is quite frank about her feelings about her pregnancy, the baby's father, and other related events. Also adding color to the story is the owner of the pie diner Jenna works at, Old Joe (Griffith). Old Joe is difficult, but he likes Jenna, and they have an unusual friendship.
After watching this film, I was hungry for pie...and wanted all of Jenna's recipes (including "Earl Murders Me Because I'm Having An Affair Pie... You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust" and "I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong And I Don't Want Earl To Kill Me Pie... Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana").
The film does not disappoint. Keri Russell makes the audience relate to Jenna while still keeping her anger and vulnerability real. I was not as familiar with her career as I was with her love interest: I love Nathan Fillion (he was in Firefly!!). He is great as the doctor, charming but still incredibly quirky. Cheryl Hines and director Adrienne Shelly add humor as Becky and Dawn respectively. They each have relationship developments during the course of the film, but they stand out when they appear with Jenna. It is sad to watch Dawn and know that actress/director Shelly was killed several months ago...
Overall a great film. The beginning is a little jarring, but once you get a little into it (and understand why Jenna is so upset about being pregnant with her husband's child) it really works. And there is a sort of poetic justice at the end...satisfying!
Dude, it's quotable: just look at the names of the pies...amazing!
Rent it: definitely an adult film...it may be a little film, but it has a lot to offer and a lot of heart. Stellar performances and lots of pie loving!
Waitress (2007) 108 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, language and thematic elements.
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Starring: Keri Russell as Jenna Hunterson
Nathan Fillion as Dr. Pomatter
Cheryl Hines as Becky
Jeremy Sisto as Earl Hunterson
Andy Griffith as Old Joe
Adrienne Shelly as Dawn
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