Monday, October 20, 2008

The Waitress - Review

This is one of my new 'comfort' chick movies. You know, the one that's always on cable and as soon as it comes on, you settle down and watch it, reciting the lines along with the characters. I love the colorful characters of movies like "Where the Heart Is" and "Steel Magnolias," where "laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." I have no idea why an Indian girl from Jersey has such a penchant for movies about southerners. I find the southern culture more exotic than any other!

I never watched Kerri Russell before, so I was really impressed with her flawless and truthful portrayal of Jenna, a waitress stuck in a miserable marriage. She finds pie baking to be a creative release of her emotions, as well as her love. There's a bit of food having special powers as in "Like Water for Chocolate" where the "Fall in Love" pie actually works. It's not a traditional romantic comedy because the plot is quite unusual, but that's what makes it stand out.

The one scene I do not like is the last one. Jenna dances out of her diner with her little girl, skipping down the lane so carefree. I'm sorry, but a working mother of a toddler does not skip. She will have at least two to three bags strapped upon her while navigating a stroller because the child may walk only 10 feet before crying and whining she's tired. The ending just wrapped up too cute too quickly.

Of course, I had to research the cute doctor in this movie - Nathan Fillion. (He reminds me a bit of Jason Bateman)

The shocking and unfortunate aspect of this movie is the murder of Adrienne Shelly. She was the writer and director of this movie, as well as an actor (played the goofy, big hearted waitress Dawn). It was a random act of violence, and very tragic to know such a talent died so young.

If you've seen this movie and have this massive craving for some "Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie" or "Baby Screamin’ Its Head Off In The Middle of the Night & Ruinin’ My Life Pie" or "I Can’t Have No Affair Because It’s Wrong & I Don’t Want Earl to Kill Me Pie" (with or without the banana!), here are Jenna's pie recipes. (Actually that chocolate mousse pie looks good!)


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I especially liked your comment about the last scene in the film about her skipping out of the restaurant sans bags, stroller and whiny child. HA HA HA

Anonymous said...

I love this movie. And yes, Nathan does look like Jason Bateman, making me wonder why my doctor's don't look like him.

I watched this movie the other day and then watched the movie, August Rush which she is also in...she's prego in that one too. So, basically I spent close to 3 hours or so watching Keri be pregnant. ;)

My favorite line in the movie:

Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They don't look at your face. They don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness in it.

Baby don't cry, gonna make you pie, gonna make you pie with a heart in the middle....

-Phoenix

Anonymous said...

I really liked the movie. A bit of a quirky but fun plot. Truly a talented artist that will be missed. Some things are so senseless. GLS