In Short Order
Written: May 27 '07 (Updated May 27 '07)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Story, cast, cinematography, direction
Cons: The creative mind of Adrienne Shelly has been silenced
The Bottom Line: Pie, anyone?
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| pmills1210's Full Review: Waitress |
Jenna Hunterson is trapped in a loveless marriage in a small southern town where everybody quickly learns everybody else's business. In Waitress, Jenna (Keri Russell) thinks of leaving her domineering husband, Earl (Jeremy Sisto), but her plans change when she discovers she's pregnant with his child. Jenna's a waitress in a pie shop owned by Old Joe (Andy Griffith), where she's the master pie chef. Not only can Jenna help to make any of the regular pies, but she always creates the speciality pies. Many people in town encourage her to enter a bake-off where she could win $25,000, but Earl won't allow it, since it means travel that would take her away from home.
Jenna also knows that her fellow waitresses have relationship issues. Becky (Cheryl Hines) is married to an invalid who's rarely lucid. Dawn (Adrienne Shelly) goes on a five-minute date with a tax auditor named Ogie (Eddie Jemison), but he feels Dawn is the love of her life. None of the ladies like the overly-zealous Ogie, but he won't be swayed. Cal (Lew Temple), the loud and demanding pie shop manager, is always on his wait staff for some reason or another. Jenna's life, though, grows more complicated when she gets a crush on Dr. Tom Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), her new - and married - OB/GYN. The well-meaning doctor doesn't react the way he should about her actions. While he still treats Jenna, he finds it hard to keep their relationship strictly doctor-patient. When Earl shows his true colors about Jenna, she grows more and more determined to find a way to leave him.
Waitress marks the final film from writer/director/actress Adrienne Shelly, who was murdered in November 2006, two months before her last movie made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. It is, for the most part, a charming, observant, and funny film about the differences in the way men and women express their feelings toward one another. The men in this movie are direct with their words and their actions, while the women openly display a gamut of emotions. While the various story angles head in predictable directions, Shelly has compensated with a pacing that creates some sense of suspense, as well as a tale that is filled with characters who burst with life. Ogie, for example, loves to create poetry on the spot, even at a wedding. Many scenes show the creative process of Jenna as she prepares the pies everybody loves. With the exception of Earl, all of the key characters prove they care about others and, ultimately, will do right by one another. The colorful and inviting cinematography of Matthew Irving captures the beauty of both the people and the food. He shoots the food as though Jenna's creations were characters themselves. I'm sure that the pie-making sequences made some people hungry.
The acting from the principal players ring with conviction. Russell shines as Jenna, a woman whose life requires constant quick thinking. Everywhere she turns, she has to deal with some man, and make some effort to please every one of them, with varying results. Each of them offers a way for Jenna to address her dilemma, even when that's not their intent. I especially like her scenes with Griffith, who is a demanding customer, but compassionate friend. Old Joe makes Jenna listen as he reads her horoscope, but he also reads people very well. He knows Jenna makes his pie business popular, and wants to try and make sure nobody interferes in her work. Sisto is very effective as the self-centered Earl, while Fillion shows both compassion and confusion as Jenna's medical caretaker. Shelly is sweet as the apprehensive Dawn, who needs plenty of convincing to see that Ogie means well. The chemistry in this ensemble is excellent, as they show the close bonds people might find with one another in a small town.
The final shot of the movie shows Jenna taking a walk with her daughter, Lulu, who is played by Shelly's daughter, Sophie Ostroy. The joy of those final moments is tempered by the reality that they will be the final ones Shelly will offer. Waitress, though, is a fine ending to a short career. The movie, like Jenna's pies, is both fresh and familiar. It serves a healthy share of temptation that extends far beyond dessert. Joe's wait staff may offer customers slices of tasty pie, but they also serve slices of life. Not every slice of life will be good, but the sweetness is there for people who know how to recognize it.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Feel-good Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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pmills1210
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Member: Pat Mills
Location: East Chicago, In.
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"Nothing in moderation." - Ernie Kovacs. Read and enjoy!
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