A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Waitress

Date Viewed: 6/18/07

Details:

Keri Russell (Jenna)

Nathan Fillion (Dr. Pomatter)

Cheryl Hines (Becky)

Jeremy Sisto (Earl)

Andy Griffith (Old Joe)

Adrienne Shelly (Dawn)

Eddie Jemison (Ogie)

Lew Temple (Cal)

Written & directed by: Adrienne Shelly

Score: ++

The Review: An absolutely wonderful indie film; everything clicks!

The pie diner must be a Southern phenomenon; I've never seen anything quite like it up here, north of the Mason-Dixon line (more's the pity). While there appear to be other items on the menu, the primary fare comprises a wide variety of pies, both entrée and dessert, that are created by the chef d'diner.

The title character Jenna (Russell) is both chief pie creator and waitress at one of these roadside diners. She has a vivid imagination and not only are her sometimes bizarre creations sought out by all the town-folk, most of her pies have dark or amusing names. She works with two other waitresses, Becky (Hines) and Dawn (Shelly), and this trio forms the core of the film. But all is not sweetness and light -- she's married to a conceited, self-centered, insulting, embarrassing, annoying, controlling and totally unappealing bastard of a husband Earl (Sisto). There's a bit of tension with Cal (Temple), the chief cook at the diner. And the diner's owner and general curmudgeon Old Joe (Griffith) visits several times a week and makes his own kind of trouble. Compounding this setup is the revelation that Jenna is newly, unwillingly, pregnant. Then into this mix comes a replacement town doctor and gynecologist (Fillion), and Jenna's world is turned topsy turvy.

If you think this sounds like the setup for low comedy or a soap opera, you'd be dead wrong on both counts. This marvelous film is a character study of the whole crew -- good, bad or indifferent -- and develops all the relationships with occasional good humor and tremendous sensitivity. The pacing is just right, the twists well-timed. Each character is fascinating and carefully crafted, from the asshole husband everyone will hate in about 3 seconds (why did Jenna ever marry this loser?!), to Andy Griffith's excellent turn as the gruff complainer with a heart of gold. You are immediately engaged, drawn into the comings and goings of small town America -- not only cheering on Jenna and hoping ardently for Earl's comeuppance, but compelled to watch as the plot turns. This is something rarely seen in cinema today -- a deft touch, with good characters, in a story you care about. I almost didn't go see this movie; that would have been a shame.

Excellent; a real gem; highly recommended.

(4-Jul-07)

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