Waitress (PG-13)

Indie tackles tough topics but is as sweet as pie.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • 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

Parents need to know that although this quirky indie dramedy is ultimately heartwarming, it tackles very mature themes like spousal abuse (emotional and physical), loneliness, infidelity, and unhappiness. Protagonist Jenna's husband Earl constantly ridicules and demeans her, treating her like a possession. In one scene, he hits her in the face; other times he grabs and pushes her. Two different sets of couples commit adultery, but in one case the characters decide to part ways. In the end, the movie is very sweet and ends up being about a woman's immediate, undeniable love for her baby.

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?

4

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

All Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

1

Posted on 07/24/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Boring

This movie is very boring! The plot was okay, but it was boring. It did explore very tough issues. The showing of the pies every other scene was weird.
3


Posted on 03/25/08 by lovcandy906 Kid contributor, age 12

THE WORST MOVIE IV SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!

i DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE MOVIE SUCKS!!! -lovcandy906
2

Posted on 01/03/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 12/13/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Waitress

An awesome movie. It's sweet and funny, but also has some hilarious sarcastic humor added on to give it an edge. It reminded me a bit of Little Miss Sunshine, which is definitely a good thing.
3


Posted on 12/13/07 by GearMaven Adult contributor

Sad social commentary!

I wanted to love this movie, but I was so turned off by, first, a women putting up with abuse and not leaving immediately; second, infidelity accepted as normal; third, casual abhorance for baby in the womb with no mention that this woman seriously needs therapy. Very good acting by former "Felicity" star.
5


Posted on 06/04/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

It's as easy as pie to say this: Waitress is the best indie film of '07!

This film isn't a chick flick. It's not a comedy or a drama. It's not an action film or anything you'd look for in a movie. I have to say: Waitress is a very good film that makes you laugh, cry, and cheer for the waitress named Jenna as she goes through an abusive marriage. Only one problem: she's pregnant. This film has a lot of mature themes, including infidelity, adultery, pregnancy, domestic abuse, and affairs. There's an implied sex scene, a lot of language and scenes of domestic abuse. Also the protagonist has an affair with her obstetrician, and her friend has an affair with the owner of the pie shop they work at. Also, one of the girls has a 5-minute date with a guy that is basically a sex addict who talks about sex all the time. At first she hates him but then they get married. The ending is very good and sweet, with Jenna having her baby and telling her husband to "get the h*ll out of my life". This movie was as sweet as pie even though there was a lot of mature themes. I recommend this film to teens 13+.
5

Posted on 06/04/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

It's a chick movie 100% but I still loved it!

I'd buy it to keep. Okay, I will. I can't believe this movie is not filling up the theaters, while the big-3 sequels that are puffed up with overblown hype are still packing in people. Man, thats a shame. This movie is a gem. It does have some social problems, having a girl messing around with a married guy, she's obviously messed up in her head. But she figures it out in the end. Still, it's not for little kids. They wouldn't get the humor, nor would they make sense of the plot.
5


Posted on 05/23/07 by browncoat4life Kid contributor, age 17

GREATEST MOVIE IN YEARS!

I just saw "Waitress" this past weekend twice and both times i loved it! I love they plot and the whole story! Nathan Fillion is by-far one of the greatest actors of all time! I think "Waitress" will make him huge! GREAT MOVIE GUYS! Love Bailey

See all 8 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

3


Posted on 12/13/07 by GearMaven Adult contributor

Sad social commentary!

I wanted to love this movie, but I was so turned off by, first, a women putting up with abuse and not leaving immediately; second, infidelity accepted as normal; third, casual abhorance for baby in the womb with no mention that this woman seriously needs therapy. Very good acting by former "Felicity" star.
5

Posted on 06/04/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

It's a chick movie 100% but I still loved it!

I'd buy it to keep. Okay, I will. I can't believe this movie is not filling up the theaters, while the big-3 sequels that are puffed up with overblown hype are still packing in people. Man, thats a shame. This movie is a gem. It does have some social problems, having a girl messing around with a married guy, she's obviously messed up in her head. But she figures it out in the end. Still, it's not for little kids. They wouldn't get the humor, nor would they make sense of the plot.

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

1

Posted on 07/24/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Boring

This movie is very boring! The plot was okay, but it was boring. It did explore very tough issues. The showing of the pies every other scene was weird.
3


Posted on 03/25/08 by lovcandy906 Kid contributor, age 12

THE WORST MOVIE IV SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!

i DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE MOVIE SUCKS!!! -lovcandy906
2

Posted on 01/03/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 12/13/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Waitress

An awesome movie. It's sweet and funny, but also has some hilarious sarcastic humor added on to give it an edge. It reminded me a bit of Little Miss Sunshine, which is definitely a good thing.
5


Posted on 06/04/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

It's as easy as pie to say this: Waitress is the best indie film of '07!

This film isn't a chick flick. It's not a comedy or a drama. It's not an action film or anything you'd look for in a movie. I have to say: Waitress is a very good film that makes you laugh, cry, and cheer for the waitress named Jenna as she goes through an abusive marriage. Only one problem: she's pregnant. This film has a lot of mature themes, including infidelity, adultery, pregnancy, domestic abuse, and affairs. There's an implied sex scene, a lot of language and scenes of domestic abuse. Also the protagonist has an affair with her obstetrician, and her friend has an affair with the owner of the pie shop they work at. Also, one of the girls has a 5-minute date with a guy that is basically a sex addict who talks about sex all the time. At first she hates him but then they get married. The ending is very good and sweet, with Jenna having her baby and telling her husband to "get the h*ll out of my life". This movie was as sweet as pie even though there was a lot of mature themes. I recommend this film to teens 13+.
5


Posted on 05/23/07 by browncoat4life Kid contributor, age 17

GREATEST MOVIE IN YEARS!

I just saw "Waitress" this past weekend twice and both times i loved it! I love they plot and the whole story! Nathan Fillion is by-far one of the greatest actors of all time! I think "Waitress" will make him huge! GREAT MOVIE GUYS! Love Bailey
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