Waitress

Rating: 4.75/5

Waitress is a film that could technically be described as a romantic-comedy, but is unlike other movies of the genre due to its' strong emotional core.

Jenna (Keri Russel) is a waitress at a pie diner. All she wants to do is make pies and earn enough money to leave her abusive husband Earl, but her plan to get away is stalled when she learns that she is pregnant.

Unlike most expectant mothers, Jenna resents the unborn child that has seemingly ruined her way out of her marriage. With her friends at the diner and her new doctor (Nathan Fillion) for support, Jenna has to find a way to deal with a pregnancy that she does not want and a marriage that she fears she cannot escape.

Waitress is unique in many ways and its' director is definitely one of them. Adrienne Shelly directed this film and she added a very unusual and charming style to the movie that almost places it in a genre all its' own. I have always felt that even if you weren't aware that a movie was directed by a female, as soon as it starts you can usually tell. Female directors generally don't follow the patterns or formulas that most main stream films seem to fall into. Shelly certainly did not stick to any traditional movie design, and Waitress is a better romantic-comedy because of it.

The characters that surround Jenna's life are full of offbeat and eccentric traits, and they add a wonderful sense of whimsy to the film. Adrienne Shelly acts as well as directs, and makes her character adorably awkward. Keri Russel is able to tap into the emotions that are going through Jenna's mind as well as be able to make her strong exterior fit her character and not seem out of place.

I remember seeing Waitress in discount bins back when Blockbuster was a prominent business, and that always lead me to believe it was just another basic rom-com, and that initial impression couldn't have been further from the truth. Not long after that, I was thankfully shown this movie and immediately fell in love with it. For anyone who has held that same original idea about this movie that I had, I strongly urge you to watch it, because I can practically guarantee you'll be impressed with it. Every ingredient of this film works together to make a perfect recipe, and one that has not been done many times before.

Though Waitress isn't incredibly well known, it definitely should be. It flawlessly balances its' poignant emotional scenes with perfectly placed moments of humor; with the end result being a film that is both comical and touching.