Simply an excellent little film. It's great to see both Kerri Russel (Felicity) and Nathan Fillion (Firefly) in such quality roles, for a change. They deserve it, but so do we! Cheryl Hines and Adrienne Shelly (as well as Andy Griffith) provide the glue that holds it all together. Certainly heartwarming, even though there's an underbelly of pain and loneliness to it all (see Jeremy Sisto). So sad what happened to Adrienne Shelly, who was really the queen of the resurgence in independent film. The first must-see film of "the summer." If you're bored to tears by standard noise that the Spider-Man machine is churning out this weekend, you've got a perfect alternative.… Expand

What's the message of this little movie? - Motherhood is the only way to exist for a woman. Very narrow-minded, very conservative.

One of the very worst movies I've seen in years. The dialogue is beyond ludicrous, unless everyone in small southern towns cannot master basic grammar (wrong double negatives abound!) Everything is foreshadowed to such a ludicrous degree that you can't believe it when it actually HAPPENS JUST THAT WAY. And, in the center of it all is a strains-credulity-completely, illicit affair between a pregnant woman and her married doctor, played for laughs. Andy Griffith is superb; Keri Russell, well, let's just say this was not the role she was born to play.… Expand

Ending qas somewhat dry, very enjoyable.

Perfectly charming, funny, sweet. True to life. characters with real relationships don't shy away from making make tough choices.

I'm amazed at the high marks - this movie is quite bad. My wife 1/3 way through states "I'm waiting for someone who can act" and really that sums this up. Personally, I thought the major problems were with tone, with ill-conceived flourishes of music and sensual pie-making collages throughout. Try "Junebug" if you are looking for a small town dramedy or "Hairspray" for 10x the fun.

This year's "Little Miss Sunshine"? it gets my vote. Great character piece. Loved the style and feel. Also enjoyed the top-notch camera work, and production design. It looked fantastic.

A clunker. This movie is amusing, yes, but rife with stereotypic characters -- the perky (albeit depressed) heroine; the crusty old man with a heart of gold; the wise-cracking pals; and of course, the evil husband. The epiphany of maternal love has been better played elsewhere and the ending is just too pat. The best characters in this movie are the pies.

The movie has its moments. But there are few characters one can clearly admire. Each of the sad sacks has so much baggage and so little integrity that it gets old. To watch a mother-to-be (impregnated by her horrible, abusive husband whilst she was drunk) declare that she has no love for the baby growing inside her, while she has an affair with her weirdo married ob-gyn, well she is really not a likable heroine. Until her redemption once the baby is born. I guess I am just tired of morally compromised characters in movies, the same as I am with morally compromised politicians, entertainers and people in general. Too few characters, and real people, really deserving of admiration these days, from our president on down.… Expand

I laughed. I cried. I cheered. This little Independent Film was a poetic and lyrical fairytale. It was heartbreakingly beautiful.

I haven't walked out on a movie in a long time, but I did on this one. Nothing rings true. Plot points are beaten over the head with cliche music. It might make a passable Hallmark movie of the week. Might.

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

I was a little disappointed. I tried to judge this movie on its merits rather than on the tragedy behind its maker. Taken that way, it was amateur. Keri Russell, along with some of the other actors, is just fun to watch. But the story is predictable and the acting is wooden.

There is a definite sense of independent filmaking coursing through the screen, but the charm soaks through. Keri Russell is simply fun to watch. I wouldn't say much was revelatory, though.

Start with a slice of "Oh God, I'm pregnant and I hate my husband" pie, have a piece of "My friend has a secret and won't tell anybody" pie and "My other friend is being stalked by the worlds biggest nerd" pie, then have some "Why is the best man in my life my OBY-GN and married!" pie, then finish it off with a great big piece of "I am woman, hear me roar" pie and you get a wonderfully delicious little indie gem that's a star making turn by Keri Russell and a heart-breaking farewell to Adrienne Shelly that's guaranteed to make you want to stop off at the local bakery on your way home. With 3 great big blockbuster busts so far this year- 3 great big cheers for independent films!!!… Expand

Cartoonish characters in a sweet but flawed movie. The heroine's attachment to her absurdly loutish husband rings utterly false. I'm not saying there aren't a lot of louts out there or of women who are inexplicably attached to them, but the way Russell plays the character, she's confident and assertive in every situation except when her husband is around, when she suddenly becomes snivelling and weak. The only explanation given for why such a beautiful, sweet, idealistic girl would wind up with such a loser is that "he changed after we got married." My favorite ridiculous line in the movie is when Russell, who is simply stunning in any lighting from any angle, tells the doctor who's attempting to romance her that "Nobody sees me that way." Who casted this thing? Give us a waitress with a hint of beauty that's not altogether faded by work and worry, not some Hollywood beauty queen pretending to slum it. The ending is cartoonish and absurd and sends a very wrongheaded message to women who might be suffering abuse at the hands of some real life lout--get pregnant, and eventually everything will be okay.… Expand

Entertaining but uneven. Sometimes goes for Cohen-Bros-esc campiness, other times tries to be serious. Would have been nicer if a consistent choice had been made.

There was absolutely not one thing I didn't love about this movie. It is PERFECT.

Too bad this piquant but charming little small-town character study, despite several promising weeks in the Top Ten, ultimately didn't have the staying power that would've made it this year's equivalent to 2002's My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which it's superior to) or last year's Little Miss Sunshine (which it's FAR superior to). Keri Russell (of TV's Felicity) is luminous as the title character Jenna, who sublimates her disappointment with her less-than-totally-fulfilling career and genuinely miserable home life by concocting highly original, offbeat pie recipes. (Some of us cook. Some of us post online movie reviews. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.) Life takes an unexpected turn when Jenna discovers she's pregnant, a development that threatens to leave her permanently tied to her creepy, abusive husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto), but also opens up new possibilities (and moral dilemmas, which the movie admirably doesn't shy away from) in the form of a romance with her Dr. McDreamy-like gynecologist (Nathan Fillion, of the cult TV show Firefly and subsequent movie Serenity). With our country perhaps more polarized in the last few years than it's been at any time in its history since, oh, maybe the Civil War, Waitress is exactly the kind of purple-state movie we all desperately need; it's clearly feminist in its beliefs that women are rightfully entitled to the full spectrum of opportunities that come so easily to men, but one must also note that even though Jenna clearly doesn't want to have the baby (and Earl is such a loose cannon that it's potentially dangerous for her to have it), she--like Katharine Heigl's Alison in Knocked Up--doesn't seriously consider an abortion. Triple-threat talent Adrienne Shelly, who wrote and directed as well as contributing a thoroughly endearing supporting turn as coworker Dawn, occasionally veers too sharply into sitcom territory (the third waitress is a tad too similar to Flo on TV's Alice for total comfort) but more than compensates with dozens of perfect but unobtrusive, almost subliminal little directorial touches. Notice, for example, what happens visually to Jenna's surroundings once the baby is born, and observe how the font Shelly chooses in the opening credits makes a significant, poignant reappearance in the final scene. The writing is often wonderfully multilayered and subtle, too, especially in the handling of Earl: he's certainly scary and dangerous, and Jenna has every reason and right to try to escape him, but Shelly, rather than taking the easy way out and making him one-dimensionally monstrous, paints him as deeply insecure and at times even childlike...which of course doesn't justify his behavior but at least makes it seem logical (at least from HIS point of view). Remember that Jenna does admit that she married him BEFORE he became this way, which indicates that there must have been a time in which she at least thought she loved him. Parallels with Shelly's own tragic offscreen fate are best left mostly undiscussed because there's no profit or point in giving her murderer any more publicity than he deserves, but I will briefly bring up two points: the violence with which Shelly met her end stands in heartbreaking contrast with the gentleness of her final film, and if my memory serves me correctly, Shelly could, sadly, become the first posthumous Best Original Screenplay Oscar nominee on record in a few months. And if the Academy Award folks want to give Andy Griffith the same Lifetime Achievement--er, Best Supporting Actor award they gave Alan Arkin last year, for Griffith's hugely enjoyable portrayal of Old Joe, the curmudgeon with a heart of...silver, then who are we to deny the Sheriff of Mayberry?… Expand

If I could give it a 11 I would!! This movie lifted my spirit, you really did not know how it was going to go, but the best scene most have been when she (Shelly) held her baby girl for the first time AWW it was perfect. The acting was brilliant and the characters were all funny in their own way! All together it was much more then I had expected, it was a feel good movie that I have been thirsting for.… Expand

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.

I don't get the love/hate reactions by my fellow users. This is a quirky, funny, moving, sexy movie with a lot to say about the human spirit.

Just a wonderful, original and utterly human film!!

In this frenzied world we need, this type of "corny" entertainment to lift our sometimes lagging spirits. Simple but so beautifully crafted by an amzingly talented ensemble. How can you resist the heartfelt performance of Kerri Russell, luminous right up to the almost fairy tale ended. So what wrong with laughter mixed with bittersweet tears, for me absolutely nothing. A lasting legacy to Adrienne Shelly.… Expand

If you liked 'Sideways' and 'Little Miss Sunshine' -- you'll like 'Waitress.' All three films tell a small story and feature slightly quirky, loveable characters who grab and hold the viewer's interest. Russell does an excellent job of playing the love-starved waitress who channels her frustration into pie-making and then falls in love with a new, handsome doctor who comes to town to take over the practice of the town's retiring doctor. This will be a big hit, and justifiably so.… Expand

I agree with a mixture of the critics above - it's not a slice of life but it's also not a fable. The characters presented seem almost impressionist: too real to be caricatures and too poignant to be normal. This is a kind of movie that doesn't care about mimicking the real further than convincing you to invest in the characters. After that it only wants to convince you that the world doesn't suck so long as you give it a nudge every once in a while. Really, a very entertaining feel-good movie.… Expand

Like Damien O'Donnell's "East is East", "Waitress" has the same dramatic shift in tone, catalyzed by an abusive husband(Om Puri in the film about working-class Pakistani emigrants), which redefines the genre both films originally started with. In other words, "Waitress" is thrown out of whack by Jenna's malevolent husband, Earl(Jeremy Sisto), whose misogynistic hand jars the viewer after being treated to a pitch-perfect quirk-fest of eccentric characters and situations. Still, the break-out performance of the radiant Keri Russell, saves the rookie filmmaker with her mournful grace and sardonic humor, even in the film's patchier moments. Her last scene is scarily prescient of this filmmaker's tragic fate when you realize that Earl is, in all likelihood, sharing the same zip code with his ex-wife. Stay for the epitaph, then rent Hal Hartley's "Trust" and fall in love with the late Adrienne Shelly. Then cry.… Expand

This is not an easy movie to characterize. It tackles extremely serious topics in a most entertaining way. The movie is sweet but uncompromising. And its message is universal: if you have a decent life, accept it and be satisfied with it; if your life is miserable, do what you have to do to change it. And who cares if the people are real or not.

If you take away the tragic backstory, this is a truly mediocre film. From the terrible attempts at southern accents to the vocabulary that seems to be far above the heads of its users to the i'm-so-cute-look-at-me self-consciousness of the film, I'm expecting to see this on Oxygen in a few years.

Surprisingly funny--we went in thinking the "name the pie" shtik was dumb so weren't expecting much. We left really enjoying a funny, well acted film. Shelly was a riot and the movie was fun from start to finish.

Very over-rated. Also, very inauthentic unless one thinks most people from small towns are dumb. The script is based on the central premise that people are essentially bad, especially men and children, but fortunately is too disconnected from anything real to be that depressing. Besides that, to warm the unearned cynicism are several stunningly sentimental cliches, including a crusty but lovably world-wise old man who dies of cancer, and a woman who is redeemed by a child she didn't want. Skip this one unless you're a beautiful and selfish young woman stuck in a marriage with a moronic monster and you need a cartoon character to identify with.… Expand

Off the charts charming. There is a lot of joy to be found here, but a great amount of quiet suffering as well. If the last ten minutes of the movie were lopped off, this might be soul-crushingly depressing. Keri Russell's performance communicates perfectly the helplessness and despondency of feeling trapped by life and circumstances....

Just not as satisfying as I had hoped. A little choppy and too many colorful characters to feel all that authentic.

A terrific movie, and especially emotional after finding out the writer/director/actress was murdered by an illegal immigrant.

Keri Russell really shines. I thinkshe deserves accolades for her portrayal of a morally-questionable, though honest and charming woman, as she makes the movie deliver sweet and sharp notes what could have been something sour and false.

This film included hackneyed elements and unremarkable characters aplenty. Worst of all, I found it to be rather boring throughout long stretches.

When my wife dragged me along to this film, I was prepared for another sugar-and-vinegar chick-flick yawn. Man was I wrong. It was made for guys. It opens, and ends, with pie. That should be enough. Recipe: Start with a standard small-town midsummer crust. Mix in a lonely, intelligent, stunningly beautiful blond, Kerri Russell, in a nurse-evocative pie-shop uniform, and we're in deep smit. Add an abusive, childish husband, and our protective instincts kick in. Stir in a pregnancy, and those instincts are in full force. Infuse with lots of humor, a risky affair, a codgerly grandpa figure, a greasy line-cook boss, a smarmy poet-stalker, a leggy gold-digger, secret loneliness, and a sidekick played by writer/director/producer the late Adrienne Shelley, and our languishing comic-book character fantasies are steadily evoked. Top with our weaknesses for money and fatherhood. Bake for the perfect length of time, serve with a generous helping of humanity, finish with a hefty glass of moral relativity, and round out with a food-based lullaby. Wow. Every guy should see this film, and every girlfriend/wife/partner should take him.… Expand

I think this movie is probably a 3 or a 4, but I gave it a zero to cournter balance the overly inflated scores because the director died. It's sad, yes, but the movie is REALLY mediocre. Keep up the lame illusion that this is the best movie of the year and it will rob a deserving movie of an Oscar Nod. Get over it. It isn't that good.

I had decidedly mixed feelings on this one. The film was obviously done on a low budget by an inexperienced director, most of the characters (with the exception of the heroine) are one-dimensional small town eccentrics, the ending is predictable. Yet the film still seduces you with its charm, some good laughs and those wonderful pies! Andy Griffith is a delight here as he spoofs his own Mayberry persona. To critize its lack of realism is probably besdies the point, since it has a fairy tale aura.… Expand

Probably not a "mainstream" film, but I enjoyed it very much.

Crap movie. Totally sexist and awful. When does having a baby allow you a way out of an awful marriage? In reality, the baby would have kept in that marriage longer.

Great unexpected film. Very enjoyable.

Keri Russel proves she is more than just Felicity. Really funny, poignant, all American tale. Not just a chick flick.

The good news: Keri Russell is luminous! The camera loves her. I rented this movie for two reasons: 1) out of curiosity for tragically slain director/screenwriter/actor Adrienne Shelly; and 2) the high ranking from Metacritics. I understand how critics wanted to offer a sensitive assessment for Shelly's post-murder release, but please! This movie is quite poor! It simply has little or no psychological logic. It makes no sense that the lead character can be assertive with her doctor and others, and yet cannot stand up to her controlling/abusive husband (until she holds her newborn). Why does she just now meet the diner's long-term owner, Old Joe? She is obviously pivotal to his business -- as the central and essential pie-maker -- but her barely seems to know of her before the film begins. (And by the way, she seems to be a one-woman pie factory, but also has time to wait tables.) The whole movie lacks logic and multiple levels, and serves up every possible negative cliche regarding "small town" folk. Shelly might have indeed made some decent films had she lived, but this is not one of them.… Expand

This was a great movie, with many memorable characters. Very entertaining.

Beautifully sweet and enjoyable. Keri Russell shines in the film.

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

Awful, truly awful, this was without a doubt the worst film I've ever seen. I can't get that incessant pie song out of my head... gonna make a pie.. AHHHHH :(

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.… Expand