Opening Day: 13 September 2007 (Exclusively at Cathay Orchard and The Cathay)

Synopsis:

WAITRESS is the story of one woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape. Jenna's (Keri Russell) secret ambition is to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbearing and controlling husband (Jeremy Sisto). Jenna is a sharp, sassy woman with a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials, tribulations and circumstances of her life. An unwanted pregnancy changes the course of events giving her an unexpected confidence via letters to her unborn baby.


Movie Review:

For a film that promotes a sensorial experience filled with delectable close-ups of the making of pies, it is unfortunately, remembered as Adrienne Shelly’s final screen performance and directorial effort. Shelly was tragically murdered during the production of the film. It will also be sad to note that Waitress could possibly be Shelly’s best work to date.

Waitress is the tale of Jenna Hutcherson (Keri Russell), a waitress at a Pie Diner who makes pies straight from heaven. She is planning to ditch her obsessively jealous husband, Earl (Jeremy Sisto) with the support of her fellow waitresses, Becky (Cheryl Hines), Dawn (Adrienne Shelly) and diner owner, Joe (Andy Griffith). At the same time, she discovers her pregnancy amidst falling in love with her new and married gynecologist, Dr. Pommater (Nathan Fillion).

Waitress is a smart and funny film, ready to charm an audience with its ability to avoid the pitfalls that bemoan romantic comedies as of late. In Jenna, we see a friend who is going through the rollercoaster of love not a mere character we are getting acquainted with for the next two hours. In doing so, the film is honest and real and one will be quick to identify with Jenna’s plight. In the diner, Jenna is most at home. Her eyes sparkle and glow with a burning passion, determined to carve out a new life of her own. Yet, when she is in Earl’s presence, her eyes immediately tell a different tale and instead, we see a longing, to break away.

Keri Russell as Jenna is just so full of warmth; she would remind one of her Felicity days on television. She radiates on screen that it is unimaginable to think of another actress to play the role of Jenna. This girl is finally getting her break what now with The Upside of Anger, Mission Impossible 3 and Waitress on her resume. There will be more of her to come in August Rush, filled with a star-studded cast that includes Freddie Highmore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard.

Jeremy Sisto plays the role of the jealous husband to a T. He plays his character so convincingly that one would not have to think twice of giving him a hit in the face. Nathan Fillion plays the role of Dr. Pommater with the right amount of nervousness and jitters akin to the school boy with a high school crush. The evergreen Andy Griffith provides much wisdom as Joe, owner of the diner and pseudo-mentor to Jenna. But it is Adrienne Shelly who plays Dawn the waitress who on occasion takes the spotlight for her effervescent nature on screen.

Waitress may not be the most romantic of romantic comedies to date but it warrants enough for one take a date to. With the amount of pies being shown on screen, one might also want to keep spare change for a nice supper after the film. A nice film, a nice slice of pie afterward, one might just be showered with a nice kiss or two for one’s efforts.

Movie Rating:

(A charming film that will make you crave for some pie, or some romance)

Review by Mohamad Shaifulbahri