Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 90 Ratings

  • Starring: Jeremy Sisto, Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion
  • Summary: This sweet, sassy and delicious slice of life tale reveals the power of friendship, motherhood and the willingness to take a chance. (Fox Searchlight)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Waitress deserves an essay, not just a review. There are perfect moments that stand out, and the reasons for their perfection are interesting.
  2. 80
    Part feminist fable, part romantic fairy tale, it is by turns tart and sweet, charming and tough, rather like its heroine and like Keri Russell, the plucky, pretty, nimble actress who plays her.
  3. Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    80
    An unassuming treat amid the noisy blockbuster season. It’ll melt your heart and any dietary resolve equally.
  4. Reviewed by: Jeremy Mathews
    60
    Full of off-kilter characters who don't talk like anyone in real life, but sound a truthful chord.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 51
  2. Negative: 10 out of 51
  1. Waitress walks a pretty thin line between dark relationship drama and whimsical comedy and it does so perfectly making the film thoroughly enjoyable while also giving it bite.
    Waitress tells the story of Jenna (Keri Russell), a small town waitress with a knack for making pies, who discovers she is pregnant with her repulsive husbands (Jeremy Sisto) child. She plans to win a pie making contest in a nearby town to make enough money to get away from him.
    Waitress is exceedingly clever in that it doesn't resort to any form of cliche when it could easily do so. For instance Jennas husband manages to be repugnant while also tragic, scary while also affectionate. Its something only a skilfully written script, actor and director could do together and it works magnificently. However the film really shines because of its supporting characters like Dr Pomatter (Nathan Fillion) and diner owner Joe (Andy Griffiths) who bring big lashings of humour and heart to the film. Russell gives a powerful performance that never becomes overtly emotional because it isn't in the character. The strong southern nature of her character does contrast with the closed in feeling she has about her marriage but at the same time makes you wonder why she hasn't left him already (a question handled well at the end of the film) Waitress is a perfectly crafted movie with plenty of comedy, emotion and depth.
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  2. A delightfully charming movie, not necessarily a romcom but more as a lighthearted romance movie. It's basically a "happier" version of "The Good Girl" with Jennifer Aniston. It is a well acted movie from everyone involved, but particularly from Russle, Sisto and Fillion. Keri Russell does an excellent job as playing a waitress was is unhappy with her life. Living in an unhappy marriage while fighting her urge to be happy. At first I thought that i wouldn;t be able to stand her accent, but she does a surprisingly good job. Jeremy Sisto does a good job as a scum bag, mean and (non physically) abusive husband. And Nathan Fillion as a kind and caring prince charming like character, which I thought was perfect for her. It's well paced and written, especially the ending which makes it stand out from other movies of its kind. 8.4/10. Expand
  3. LindaL.
    7
    Cut this pie into thirds, and it's: One part "Like Water for Chocolate," one part "Fried Green Tomatoes" and one part "Alice" (the TV series, not the movie it was based on). Though the husband is a ridiculous cartoon and the ending a fairy-tale cliche, I found the film to be very enjoyable for the funny-quirky characters.(Imagine Andy Griffith, for one, ending up as Mayberry's grumpy old man!) It also made me want to come home and bake a pie. Expand
  4. NealC.
    4
    What Hollywood thinks country folk are like. It's appropriate that Andy Griffith is cast, as the stereotyped characters would fit into his old show, minus the too-creepy-for- this- movie Jeremy Sisto. With all due respect to the late Ms. Shelly, this is not very good. Expand

See all 51 User Reviews

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