Waitress [DVD] [2007]

"What-a-great-momma-you're-gonna-be."

Everything about this is totally predictable and clichéd, but somehow, Waitress manages to manipulate you into thinking that 'clichedness' and 'predictableness' are good things, through the use of genuine... niceness! No wait... hear me out.

"Get lost you ol' bucket o' cheese!"

Everyone, even if the thought is right at the back of their mind, has this 'urge' to run away from their lives; to completely "start fresh"... But nobody ever does. Therefore, what Adrienne Shelly has created for us is a character who lives our dreams and feeds our fantasies.

"I don't care if you're pregnant! As long as you can fill pies and serve customers I don't care if you give birth while doin' it!"

Playing this character is Keri Russell on fine form, joined by names such as Nathan Fillon and Cheryl Hines along her road to happiness. As is highlighted in another review, what makes the cast seem so great is the screenplay... Waitress was also written by Adrienne Shelly, who in my opinion is utter genius.

"Oh my god! Dawn! Your skin actually looks like a normal person's!"

There are no visual gags in Waitress- as you're watching, you'll find yourself in hysterics, wonder how, then realize that it's all down to the terrifyingly witty screenplay. The dialogue in the scenes between the 3 waitresses can only be described as genius... I don't think I've ever laughed so much whilst watching a film!

"Don't start gettin' all nervous, an' sweet, an..." "And what?" "An nothin' just, finish your pie an' leave!"

Much in the vein of 2004's The Good girl, Waitress is a warm-hearted, low-budget, glowing pleasure that contains way more laughs and genuine emotion than a million Hollywood comedies put together! As mentioned, it somehow manages to twist all its flaws and clichés round into a totally original romantic comedy with real warmth and charm.

.....................................

Anyway, even if you're not as pleased with Waitress as I, there's something about it we have to remember. (Deep breath.) Unfortunately, during Waitress's shoot, actress / writer / director Adrienne Shelly was murdered after disputing with a construction worker over the noise he was making whilst working. Shelly was just beginning to rise in the business as one of the few successful female film directors.

May Adrienne Shelly rest in piece, and may we recognize her talents.

I actually went to London to see this film in the cinema, as it wasn't coming to my local fleapit, and I wasn't disappointed. It is a sweet film, with sufficient dark moments (particularly around the husband) to offset any tenedency towards saccharin. Keri Russell is excellent in the title role, ably supported by Nathan Fillion (a favourite of mine and the reason I saw the film in the first place) as her married OBGYN with whom she starts an affair. Taking place over the months between finding out about the pregnancy and the birth, the end is bittersweet, although as an optimist I think she meets him down the road ... but you'll have to buy the DVD to see what I'm talking about! And do buy it ... like the pies, it satisfies!

The first time I watched this with my boyfriend we were both in hysterics. It was more due to the idea of the repeated pie scenes than anything else and I dismissed the film as a waste of a fiver.

A couple of months later I picked it up again and watched it alone. This time I still laughed but it was due to the witty screenplay. This time though it also touched me how sad and tragic this story is. Yes, it is a romantic comedy but the torturous situation that Jenna (Keri Russell) finds herself in does strike a certain chord.

Her extreme apathy for the baby she is having is hysterical and throughout you find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. It's definitley a film that needs to be seen in different lights before you judge it.

And the pies weren't all that bad after all.