Waitress (PG-13)
Indie tackles tough topics but is as sweet as pie.
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- Studio: Fox Searchlight, Fox Searchlight
- Directed By: Adrienne Shelly
- Cast: Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Keri Russell
- Running Time: 104 minutes
- Release Date: 05/03/2007
- Video/DVD Release Date: 11/27/2007
- Genre: Comedy
- MPAA Rating: PG-13
- MPAA Explanation: sexual content, language and thematic elements.
Parents need to know
Families can talk about the movie's messages about starting from scratch, building self esteem, and staying loyal to friends. Why do you think Jenna stayed with Earl, even though he was a horrible husband? How should you deal with abuse if you encounter it in your own life? Families can also talk about the fact that Jenna says that her doctor is the first person who ever listened to her and cared what she had to say. Teens: Who really listens to you? And, on a lighter note: Which of Jenna's elaborate pie names is your favorite, and which one did you want to try?
Message
Social Behavior:
Sends the message that it's never too late to start fresh, even when you think you're stuck in an awful situation. Jenna realizes that adultery may feel right, but it's still wrong.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
One of the waitresses smokes a cigarette in several scenes.
Violence
A few upsetting scenes of domestic abuse: Earl pushes, shoves, and grabs Jenna. In one scene he strikes her in the face and then immediately begs for forgiveness.
Sex
Jenna and her doctor kiss passionately and have an affair, but the sex is fully clothed and very discreet. Earl and Jenna have a humorously short sex scene in which viewers hear his loud orgasm. Another two characters -- both married -- are caught kissing.
Language
Minor: many utterances of "damn," and otherwise the occasional "ass" and "bitch." Lots of name-calling ("stupid," "crazy little freak," "ape," "psycho," etc.).
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen
Keri Russell stars as Jenna, a waitress at a small-town diner best known for serving Jenna's creatively concocted and cleverly named confections (Bad Baby pie, Falling in Love pie, and Naughty Pumpkin pie, just to name a few). Jenna has just discovered that she's pregnant with her abusive husband Earl's (Jeremy Sisto) baby, which means she's tied to him for good. Through her pregnancy, she finds unexpected romance and realizes that instead of a burden, her baby is a chance for a fresh start.
Is it any good?
WAITRESS is Adrienne Shelly's only film as a director. The 40-year-old indie-film veteran was murdered in November 2006, and knowing that makes her lovely little picture all the more touching. As with her delectable pies, if Jenna can start from scratch, she'll create something beautiful. It's such a shame that after all of her hard work making her directorial debut, Shelly didn't live to see the sweet desserts of her efforts.
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Parents and kids say
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