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Pie from the Sky "Waitress" inhabits one of those enchanted movie realms where food exhibits magical qualities, crusty old coots always have a heart of gold, and the small town locals gather for a wedding in an unconventional setting -- a diner, in this case. It's a movie a sweet as the pies its protagonist makes, but it's not saccharine. Keri Russell, whose most notable work until now was the television drama "Felicity" (where she was more famous for her long locks than her acting), finds herself with a peach of a part as Jenna, a waitress at a roadside pie shop, newly knocked up by her no-good husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto). Shortly thereafter she embarks on an affair with her gynecologist (Nathan Fillion). Jenna doesn't have much going for her career-wise, but she does have a knack for making delicious pies with quirky names:
And so Jenna dreams of entering a pie baking contest to win enough money to leave Earl. She's buoyed by her co-workers Becky and Dawn, and gets some helpful advice from Old Joe (a perfectly cast Andy Griffith). Curiously, although the OB with whom she's having an affair asks about Jenna's husband, Jenna never asks Dr. Pomatter about his wife, and she's never mentioned until the final minutes of the film. But then again, this is Jenna's story; the secondary characters only serve to build up her own sense of self-worth. There are a surprising number of extra features included on the DVD of "Waitress," especially for such a low-budget film. The disc includes a feature-length audio commentary with Keri Russell and producer Michael Roiff that mostly consists of little anecdotes about the film's twenty-day shoot. There's a short featurette on the pies featured in the film that I wished was much longer. I learned from the press notes that over 200 pies were baked for the making of "Waitress," and each one was tasted. There are other short conversations with the actors included on the disc, and a short tribute to director and star Adrienne Shelly, who was tragically murdered in 2006, just before it was announced her film was accepted to screen at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. "Waitress" is a fluffy movie. There are moments of broad comedy, and some scenes of conflict, but mostly the film plays it with a light touch. Even Jenna's baddie husband Earl is afforded some level of sympathy, which keeps his character from heading down the traditional southern "wife beater" road. The movie also thankfully avoids heaping on the schmaltz, and sports a rootsy soundtrack. You'll likely enjoy a sweet slice, but pour a cup of coffee to balance it out. Note: In the wake of Adrienne Shelly's death, a non-profit organization was started to help nurture the artistic talents of female actors, writers, and directors. The Adrienne Shelly Foundation will provide grant recipients with financial support and creative consulting. More information is at www.adrienneshellyfoundation.org. 12/12/07 Back to the main Cinema Tuesdays Reviews page More about the Cinema Tuesdays series  |
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