When a friend needs help, a friend gets help. And when a friend needs companionship just because he is having a tough time at work, friend gets companionship. Especially when he is one of our own – Movie Review Squad that is. This time, my turn to choose a movie. Think without thinking (blink!), I insisted on Keri Rusell’s “Waitress”. I LOVE the TV series “Felicity” where the character of Felicity Porter was acted (brilliantly) by Keri Rusell. Just how much I love “Felicity”? If you run out of ideas what to get for me as Christmas gift, I want this and this and this and this. Thank you. Beat the Christmas crowd. Do it today!
Now, back to business and no more beating around the bushes. When the movie first started, Cynthia screamed: oh no, not another movie in the kitchen. You really can’t compare “Waitress” with “Ratatouille” … because “Ratatouille” is an animated film meant to entertain. Between Catherine Zeta-Jones’s “No Reservations” and Keri Russell’s “Waitress”, the former one is a typical Hollywood production – entertaining with lots of feel good factors. Predictable romance drama with a happy ending like any typical Hollywood film. The latter one has lots of character development opportunities, sharp and memorable scripts, hint of depression with loads of humor that kept the audience entertained in a different way. A more personal feeling with a slice of life that may not be pretty to look at but is real enough to engage the audience at the emotional level. For those who may not enjoy dramas and witty conversation and rather have a Hollywood treatment, “Waitress” may not be your cup of tea.
From the plot perspective, we have Jenna (played by Keri Russell) – a waitress at a small restaurant off the highway who creates hundreds of different pies with somewhat bizarre themes – having an unwanted pregnancy with her obnoxious husband Earl, a man whom she dreams of getting away from day after day. At work, his boss Cal constantly barks at the waitresses and Jenna’s co-workers Becky and Dawn seems to share every secrets with one another – almost. Then comes Doctor Pomatter that suddenly reminds Jenna of what passion should be like. To me, it is as though “Waitress” is a condensed version of a TV series. Lots of drama and lots of emotions. It lifts up your spirit and yet make you want to cry at times.
For those who have watched the TV series “Felicity”, you must have heard of “Dear Sally” thousands of time. In “Waitress”, it is “Dear Baby” or “Dear Damn Baby” instead. Kind of cool if you were to ask me. Can’t think of another actress to better fit that role.
2 replies on “Waitress – More Than Just Another Kitchen Related Movie”
This is one reason why I always check out your reviews before hitting the theatres. I do not keep up with the films/ entertainment scene and might have dismissed “Waitress” as being “What’s Keri thinking when she accepted this script???” had I not read your write-up.
I do need your recommendations because I am the kind who fall under the category of being a sucker for drama and witty conversations. 😉 Thanks Wilfrid.
Ah Ivy … I feel flattered. I hope I am not letting you down. All I am trying to do is to bring out the best and perhaps the worst of each movie I watch. And it is up to the avid readers to decipher if it is a good movie to watch. Different people have different criteria on what a good movie is.