"One to Watch with a Pie" film (Waitress (DVD))

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Waitress (DVD)
Date:	14/08/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A twist on the traditional rom com; more meat than veg

Disadvantages: Might be too dark for true rom com fans

++ FILM ONLY REVIEW++


Jenna is a rather downtrodden American female. Working in Joe's pie shop and married to Earl who treats her like dirt, Jenna seems trapped in a world that is not in the slightest bit pleasant. Discovering that she is pregnant by Earl, Jenna vows that her life is to change and it'll be pies that help her.

Waitress is a rather odd little film. One could describe it as a romantic comedy but it has a darker side which makes it quite compelling. Never heavy, one is pulled in to watch rather as you would a soap or drama. Morals abound throughout the (just shy of) 2 hours and one is taught that, no matter how bad things look, one never quite knows what will happen and the situation may turn in a second. Pithy pie names add to the comedy, the darkness and the morality.

Kerri Russell as Jenna portrays a very believable character. One feels like you've known Jenna for an age and she strikes me as the kind of friend that I'd really like to have. Without such a strong character I think this film would fall flat but thankfully both scripting and acting pulls through. Switching effortlessly between comedic and tragic moments Russell is the key to success.

Waitress will have, I suspect, a wider appeal than might be apparent from the cover of the DVD. It will be appreciated by those who like rom coms and fans of the chicklit genre. I think it will also appeal to those who like social dramas and it's not as shallow or fluffy as I thought it might be.

The film is sweet but not sickly. It has a good authentic feel to it both in terms of period and geography. The film, whilst focussing on Jenna, interweaves a couple of sub-plots which left me wondering what happened to some of the other characters. Although this is clearly going to be a feel-good film I was surprised that I didn't feel good in quite the way I expected. Bittersweet almost.

Recommended.

Summary: Pie n Mash!