Waitress

Waitress is a lovely slice of live comedy (with some drama thrown in) that has a bittersweet tinge to it. You see, writer/director Adrienne Shelly (who also is Dawn in the film) was brutally murdered before the movie premiered at Sundance. So she never saw what a great success the film is.

The story takes place in the southern part of the country. The focal point of the story is a restaurant that serves all of its dishes in pie form. Jenna (the wonderful Keri Russell) is not just a waitress but a talented pie maker. But she is saddled with her lout of a husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto) who treats her like property. Jenna would like to leave Earl but when she finds out that she is pregnant she feels even more trapped. Jenna's waitress friends are the sassy Becky (Cheryl Hines) and the mousy Dawn. The restaurant (like everything else in town) is owned by the curmudgeonly Old Joe (Andy Griffith).

Jenna is not thrilled about being pregnant but she will the things through. Her regular doctor is semi retired so she has to use the services of the new to town Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillon). The good doctor is also married but there is an instant attraction between the two. Throughout the film Jenna imagines creating a pie for every occasion (for example - an I don't want to be pregnant pie). And all of her creations look yummy.

Shelly did a good job of directing and her screenplay has some very witty dialog. All of the acting is good and Russell really shines. And veteran actor Griffith is wonderful in his role.

Waitress is a good natured, sweet film and under other circumstances I would have felt good coming out of the film. But I couldn't help but feel sad as I knew this is the last work we will see from Ms. Shelly. Who knows what she would have gone on to create if her life was not suddenly cut down in its prime.