December 02, 2009.

an underlying tragedy.

Rating: 4
This movie was well written, by Adrienne Shelly, who also acts in the movie as the waitress who marries her nerdy and obsessed boyfriend.

I just found out that the actress was recently murdered. I will never see the movie again without thinking of her tragically, shortened life.

This story is more than a slice of pie, but a slice of life...with a mixture of quirkiness, humor and serious dilemnas. Can the pregnant waitress leave her abusive and controlling husband? Can she find the courage to make it on her own? Will she really ever come to love her baby? Should she run off with her doctor, even though she knows this would hurt his loving wife?

I liked how the pie making recipes of the waitress coincided with the concocted recipes of life...a bit of this, a bit of that...hoping it will all blend together and work out.

December 05, 2008.

Quirky Romantic Comedy About Dreams and Obstacles.

Rating: 4
Keri Russell plays a waitress trapped by a controlling husband who discovers she is pregnant. Her only dream is to get away and win a pie contest. She has a gift for making amazing pies and its her refuge from the sad marriage where she has no freedom. When a handsome doctor arrives in town and pursues an unexpected affair with her, gradually her life begins to show promise of happinness with her baby and without her husband.

December 10, 2008.

An endearing and enduring chick flick guys can like.

Rating: 4
Waitress is my wife's favorite movie, so ... I've watched it about four times. It gets better with every viewing. The characters and storyline are charming and the message heartwarming. Beyond a great ensemble cast, Andy Griffith is brilliant as a doddering owner of the café.

Like every chick flick, Waitress has an obnoxious man as the antagonist. (Probably the ultimate chick flick is Chicago, which is, after all, about women who killed men. Great musical though.) Earl, as the husband of the main character, goes far beyond being obnoxious: So far beyond that whenever my wife or I see any male (sometimes me) acting inappropriately, we call it Earlesque.

December 25, 2008.

Very pleased.

Rating: 5
Thank you for sending my DVD so quickly. Will use your service agian in the future.

December 13, 2008.

All the right ingredients!.

Rating: 4
I loved this movie. I really loved this movie. In Waitress, Keri Russell plays Jenna, a small-town Southern woman stuck in a loveless marriage. Her control-freak husband won't buy her a car (he doesn't want her to go anywhere), and he systematically collects her paycheck and tips each week so she won't have enough money to leave him.

In addition to waiting tables at Joe's Pie Shop, Jenna creates a daily special pie. All of her pies are delicious (her co-workers call her a "pie genius"), and they all have quirky names like "Spanish Dancer Pie," "Bad Baby Pie," and "Kick in the Pants Pie." Jenna loves making pies, and it's her dream to attend a pie cook-off and take first prize.

At the beginning of the movie, Jenna learns that she's pregnant. And though she's keeping the baby, she's pretty miserable about it. When she goes in to her obgyn to confirm the news, she discovers that her staid old doctor has been replaced. Her new doctor is a young, hot, GUY. Dr. Pomatter (played adorably by Nathan Fillion) is immediately attracted to Jenna, and before long, the two are enjoying a torrid affair.

As her relationship with Dr. Pomatter develops, Jenna begins to understand some things about herself and her life. She realizes that maybe she doesn't have to be stuck with her abusive husband. And that maybe her pie-making isn't just playing, but her own unique form of artistry.

This is a wonderful film. Great performances throughout. And though the plot is not an original one, the treatment of it is beautiful. The ending is satisfying, and nearly all the characters are rounded, likable, relatable people. I loved it. Did I mention I loved it?