| | | A Film by Adrienne Shelly.
Don't miss writer-director Adrienne Shelly's sweet, sassy comedy about the power of friendship, motherhood and second chances, starring the radiant Keri Russell who serves up "a hilarious and heartfelt performance" (Rolling Stone).Jenna (Russell), a small-town waitress with big dreams, has an uncanny gift for baking out-of-this-world pies. Her secret ambition is to win a $25,000 contest, so she can leave her obnoxious husband, open her own pie shop and transform her life. A chance meeting with a handsome newcomer to town just might supply the right ingredients to help Jenna find true happiness.
"A movie that leaves you feeling good." A.O. Scott, The New York Times
"Serves up an irresistible helping of delicious fun with writing that is tart and sharp and a story infused with sweetness." Claudia Puig, USA Today
"...its breezy tone and ultimately affirming message should please comedy fans with an appreciation for the offbeat." Marrit Ingman, Austin Chronicle
"...an inspired comedy-drama about artistic temperament." Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun
"A wee romantic charmer, a delectable Dixie screwball romp that never loses its spry sense of discovery." Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Editor's Note
This charming comedy from late director-writer-actress Adrienne Shelly is the perfect mix of sweet and sour. FELICITY'S Keri Russell stars as Jenna, a waitress stuck in a marriage to a less-than-lovable lout (Jeremy Sisto, SIX FEET UNDER). When she learns she's pregnant with his baby, she seeks solace in two things: pie-baking and an extramarital affair with her hunky but nervous OB-GYN Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion, SERENITY). Jenna is an artist with crusts and fillings, creating a ham-and-brie quiche (which she calls "I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie") and a cinnamon spice custard confection ("Kick in the Pants Pie"). Her relationship with her doctor gives her something to look forward to as her husband grows ever more controlling and her baby bump gets larger. Like Jenna's perfect pie recipes, WAITRESS is a heavenly combination of ingredients. The stellar cast also features Shelly, Cheryl Hines (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM), and Andy Griffith. Griffith is a particular treat as the cantankerous owner of the restaurant where Jenna works. Eddie Jemison (OCEAN'S 11) is also a highlight as an overeager poetry-penning suitor to Shelly's character. Just like in SLITHER and FIREFLY, the charming Fillion proves that he should be far more famous than he is. Each of the talented actors is given funny and genuine lines from Shelly's script, elevating both the cast and the material. Like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, WAITRESS may not be the most original of indie films. But thanks to a great cast, gorgeous cinematography, and a warm and witty script, this is a film that deserves the accolades that LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE earned.
| Features | Audio Commentary With Producer Michael Roiff & Actor Keri Russell | | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Audio: Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo | | Dubbed: Spanish | | Featurettes: This Is How We Made Waitress Pie; Written & Directed By Adrienne Shelly - A Memorial; "Hi! I'm Keri, I'll Be Your Waitress"; The Pies Have It!; & Fox Movie Channel Presents - In Character With Keri Russell, Cheryl Hines, & Nathan Fillion | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Fox Home Entertainment |
| Release Date: 4/7/2009 |
| Running Time: 100 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2007 | | Catalog ID: 2257786 | | UPC: 00024543577867 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Independent Spirit (2008) | | | Adrienne Shelly, Nominee, Best Screenplay |
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"[Shelly] blends familiar elements into something both satisfying and surprising. Part feminist fable, part romantic fairy tale, it is by turns tart and sweet, charming and tough, rather like its heroine..." 05/04/2007 p.E1Sight and Sound
"[A] bittersweet little comedy....[With] wonderfully black humour....Quite delectable." 08/01/2007 p.81 Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "WAITRESS is a lovely film...funny and affecting with a gentle eye for foibles big and small." 09/01/2007 p.120 Total Film
3 stars out of 5 -- "Russell blends steel, smarts and sexiness into a career-lifting turn....A funny and touching testament to Shelly's multi-talent..." 09/01/2007 p.40 Empire
4 stars out of 5 -- "Shelley's script and direction sing with wit and emotion....Every character is given a respectful, affectionate arc..." 09/01/2007 p.61 Entertainment Weekly
"A sweet comic romance....A bright and uplifting film....[Russell has] moved beyond her FELICITY days to become a poised actress..." -- Grade: B 11/30/2007 p.119 USA Today
3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] movie to stir one's better instincts...[on] a comic/whimsical level and with a dash of melancholy..." 11/30/2007 ReelViews 8 of 10
Waitress is a pleasant dramatic comedy that overcomes its tonal inconsistencies by presenting an engaging lead character with whom its virtually impossible not to empathize. The film makes its share of missteps, occasionally feeling a lot like a sit-com and sometimes calling attention to quirky filmmaking devices that don't work (such as a character's face being frozen for an inordinate amount of time in a single expression). In the end, however, Adrienne Shelly's movie has enough of a heart that it's easy to forgive, if not entirely overlook, such issues...The greatest single strength of Waitress is actress Keri Russell, who transforms this character into a woman of immense appeal. Russell is wonderful in the role and it's in large part due to her likeability that the movie doesn't begin to feel stale and overfamiliar. There's a freshness to the way Jenna is written and acted that causes us to like her more every minute she's on screen. She charms us in much the same way that she charms crotchety Old Joe, played by Andy Griffith...Waitress reminded me in a general sense of Jennifer Aniston's The Good Girl, although this movie boasts more froth. Both movies are about women trapped in bad marriages and going through the motions of a boring, routine existence. For Jenna, the way out comes through her affair with Dr. Pomatter. He may not be the love of her life, but her clandestine meetings with him open up the possibilities available to her. This theme of empowerment will probably find resonance with many audience members and it's one reason why Shelly's movie deserves more consideration that something this light and seemingly inconsequential might otherwise receive. - James Berardinelli
The Onion A.V. Club 7 of 10
It's hard to look at Waitress, the final film of actress-turned-writer/director Adrienne Shelly, straight on. It aims, and sometimes strains, to be a brightly colored, life-affirming comedy, the kind in which friendship and determination can overcome adversity and hurtle over any obstacles. But the film's tragic backstory--Shelly was murdered in a random act of violence after Waitress' completion--keeps throwing off the tone. That's not the film's fault, of course, and if Waitress had fewer problems of its own, it might be easier to overlook the specter in the margins. Though contrived and artificial in ways that don't always work, the film is also heartfelt and made with genuine affection for its characters, qualities in too short a supply to dismiss...Apart from a few scenes, Shelly's film is unapologetically stagy, putting the emphasis on dialogue and characters, and sometimes both let the film down. Sisto in particular seems to be playing a character who's more ape than man, and it would be tempting to compare the setting and ditzy sidekick/tough-talking blonde/soulful lead dynamic unfavorably to Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore if it aspired that high. With its snappy dialogue and broad characters, it's closer in spirit to that film's sitcom spin-off, Alice. Still, there's much to offset the shortcomings, particularly nice performances from Russell and Fillion and a rare, welcome role from Andy Griffith as the diner's gruff owner, even if he's largely there to set up a finale that cheats much of what's come before. It's an imperfect film, but it's the kind of imperfect film of which it would be nice to have seen Shelly make more. - Keith Phipps
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