It would be wrong to talk about the recent indie gem “Waitress” without recognizing the fact that its creator, Adrienne Shelly, was murdered last November and sadly, will no longer be able to grace the world of cinema with her simple yet stylish brand of humor. There are some critics who say “Waitress,” Shelly’s final film, is only garnering such praise and attention because of the tragic fate bestowed upon its creator. Perhaps the movie has been thrust into the spotlight for reasons other than its own merit, but to say it has been well-received only because of the controversy surrounding it is simply not true. Every bit of positive press the movie is getting is more than well-deserved, as “Waitress” is one of the tastiest dishes on this year’s movie menu.
The movie stars Keri Russell, in her best performance to date, as Jenna, a vibrant but glum woman who is altogether dissatisfied with her life. She works as a waitress in a small, podunk pie shop and can’t stand her husband, Earl (Jeremy Sisto). Earl is needy, possessive and abusive, forcing Jenna to depend on him while he is clearly far more dependent on her. The only place Jenna finds comfort is in the kitchen, where she creates pies that are more like delicacies than desserts. But when Jenna finds out she’s pregnant with Earl’s baby, her reaction resembles that of someone with a case of food poisoning. She is no proud mother-to-be and certainly no Stepford wife, a fact that is made scrumptiously clear when she gives her pies names like “Baby-Screaming-Its-Heart-Out-In-The-Middle-Of-The-Night-And-Ruining-My-Life Pie,” “I-Hate-My-Husband Pie,” or, my personal favorite, “Pregnant-Miserable-Self-Pitying-Loser Pie.”
Jenna’s horizons begin to brighten, though, when she meets her new OB-GYN, Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), who is bumbling, nervous and incredibly handsome. He is also, however, married. Despite that fact, he develops something of a school-boy crush on Jenna and although she knows it’s wrong, Jenna is only too happy to have someone finally appreciate her. And while it takes some time for their relationship to develop, Russell and Fillion deliver subtle and nuanced performances that make their actions entirely believable.
In addition to Russell and Fillion, Cheryl Hines and the late Adrienne Shelly provide the film with sharp but awkward humor as Jenna’s fellow waitresses Becky and Dawn, respectively. Becky is obsessed with her breasts, which she is convinced hang at different levels (“I’m like a Picasso!”), and Dawn is a mousy young woman whose skin is so pale, Becky says, it takes layers of make-up to look like a real person. The characters in “Waitress” are so flawed, so funny and so real, you’ll find yourself wondering whether to laugh or cry.
“Waitress” is a dark comedy, a tone that suits the movie well. Its characters are confused and honest, although not always with themselves. They are all trying to find happiness, usually foolishly and clumsily, and their journeys are littered with obstacles. But this is just what draws the audience in. At times, the film makes the audience feel like they are customers at Joe’s Pie Shop, sitting at a booth waiting for their own slice of pie. It depicts characters everyone is familiar with and situations many have experienced themselves.
At first glance, “Waitress” runs the risk of suffering from cliché after cliché – the small-town girl with big-time potential, the grouchy old man (Andy Griffith) who delivers slyly sage advice, and so on. But just when you think you know what’s coming, the movie takes a turn that is neither predictable nor formulaic. Just like its characters, “Waitress” is full of surprises and contradictions and deserves to be recognized, not just as the last and arguably crowning achievement of its late director, but as a film that stands tall on its own feet. Just like Jenna’s “Falling-In-Love Pie,” it is bittersweet – at times depressing but the next minute laugh-out-loud funny. And Jenna, sweet and feisty at the same time, is the type of no-nonsense girl you can’t help but like. With the perfect combination of sugar and spice, she is the waitress everyone hopes will be taking their order.
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“The Waitress”
What: A dark comedy starring Keri Russell
Why: The human quality of the characters coupled with twists on clichés create a film both humorous and affecting.
