Sundance Review: Waitress

January 23, 2007
by Alex Billington

As I sit here writing this I'm waiting in a hotel room with Keri Russell and Cheryl Hines while they eat some lunch, but don't worry, there is no additional bias (or gossip) here - I really did love Waitress. It's a sweet little romance with some cute comedy thrown in about a desperate waitress named Jenna (played by the gorgeous Keri Russell) who doesn't want her unborn baby, hates her life, and only wants to make pies at the diner she works at for the rest of her life. Although a number of always wonderful romances come out every year, Waitress sticks out above the rest, especially given that the director/writer/star Adrienne Shelly was tragically murdered just last November.

The biggest trouble in these types of films is keeping them on the fine line between romance and comedy, and this walks that line with finesse. It's lovely and delightful, full of heart from the cast and crew all-around. The three friends and waitresses, Jenna (Russell), Becky (Cheryl Hines), and Dawn (Adrienne Shelly), deliver some quirky yet magnificent performances, and I can't forget to mention Nathan Fillion, who adds a particular amount of charm to the film. Another great Sundance movie that I gladly got to see on this fine day that has hardly any problems and is all around wonderful. I definitely urge you to go out and see it once it reaches theaters - as it was just signed bought by Fox Searchlight.

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