X
- 2007
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 48 m
- 2007
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 48 m
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)
Directed By: Adrienne Shelly
Written By: Adrienne Shelly
- 2007
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 48 m
- 2007
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 48 m
Waitress
75
6.4
Where to Watch
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)
Directed By: Adrienne Shelly
Written By: Adrienne Shelly
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
75
91% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
75
91% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Waitress deserves an essay, not just a review. There are perfect moments that stand out, and the reasons for their perfection are interesting.
Waitress is strange and sexy and personal and wonderful -- a weird little slice of pure feeling -- and it's horrible that Shelly never got the chance to see it delight a mass audience.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 48 User Ratings
6.4
58% Positive
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
25% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
17% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 48 User Ratings
6.4
58% Positive
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
25% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
17% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
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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There is little trace of tragedy in this warm, refreshing Southern comedy, which is quirky without being idiotic, original despite some familiar developments.
A pleasant dramatic comedy that overcomes its tonal inconsistencies by presenting an engaging lead character with whom its virtually impossible not to empathize.
When you watch Waitress, you're also watching a meta-movie about Shelly's brutal end, and the spirit that bursts from every corner of this overcrowded movie is so genuinely warm that trashing it feels like panning a so-so baton-twirling performance at the church talent show.
It's an imperfect film, but it's the kind of imperfect film of which it would be nice to have seen Shelly make more.
Full of off-kilter characters who don't talk like anyone in real life, but sound a truthful chord.
This film was awesome, but then it has Mr Fillion in it, and I have the worst possible man crush on the guy ever since Firefly, so I'm exceptionally biased. I did see this on the whim of a poorly constructed review attempting to look like a recipe, I would advise anyone against trying to impress with cookbook prose, and just say the damn stuff like you want to instead of trying to cook proverbial pie!
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There are some special moments in this film. You can see how much Adrienne Shelly and the crew had fun in this film. Personally, I'd kill the husband of the lead female character. There is no way I could ever, ever, play a role where I would be violent or aggressive to women. Maybe I got that when I watched LA Confidential. Russel Crowe always gets me in that role. No ****. You kill any **** being violent to women.
A massive loss to the world.
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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Director/writer/actress Adrienne's jinxed misfortune (she was killed in a burglary at home) before releasing her second film in 2006 took on a critically unanticipated hype for this indie drama-comedy, starring a haplessly chirpy Keri Russell as the waitress and pie-baker, engrossed over 19 million dollars on the domestic box-office (versus its $2,000,000 budget). I was prejudiced to expect a comedic girl-gone-independent rousing story thanks to the bright-colored poster, multi-montages of garish pies, the risible characters (Hines and Shelly, two co-worker at the pie diner). But soon it was exposed that the film takes on a rather weighty route to probe a matter-of-fact escapism of Keriâ
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Production Company
Night and Day Pictures
Release Date May 2, 2007
Duration 1 h 48 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline If only life were as easy as pie.
Awards
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
• 6 Nominations
Newport Beach Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Chlotrudis Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
