Let me just start off by saying that I really wanted to like this little film. When I saw the preview I thought that it looked to be a sweet and innocently homespun romantic comedy. One of the biggest pluses going for it is that it focuses on the story of a female main character; which is rare in terms of modern releases which all too often feature male protagonists. But alas, WAITRESS didn't live up to my expectations.
Keri Russell is cast as Jenna, the title waitress. She lives in a small town and works waiting tables at a diner. Her passion is pie making and her unique creations are the star attraction at the quaint eatery. Beneath this facade, however, we soon learn that Jenna is a troubled woman. She is married to an abusive and controlling lout of a husband. Her dream is to save up enough money, leave her spouse, and run away. To make matters worse, however, Jenna discovers that she is pregnant with a baby that she doesn't want. At one point in the film she even refers to her expectant child in terms of being a "parasite".
Jenna's humdrum life suddenly changes when she meets the town's handsome new doctor. Despite the fact that both of them are married Jenna and the doctor are drawn together and soon begin a passionate affair. For the first time in years Jenna finds happiness in her new lover's arms.
Although Adrienne Shelly's script has it's share of amusing moments it ultimately falls short. Unfortunately the film relies too much on sterotypes and viewers are likely to feel as if they've seen many of these characters before and in much better films. A good example of this is the interplay between the three waitresses who work together at the diner. Their repartee is funny at times but all in all the women come off as pale homages to the waitresses in Martin Scorsese's classic pic ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
A major flaw in WAITRESS is that in the genre of romantic comedy viewers should be rooting for the couple and want them to be together. Unfortunately this film is marred by a dark subtext and some disturbing plot points. First of all, Jenna 's husband is a violent man and within the course of the film he slaps her several times. Viewers are given many clues to indicate that this physically abusive behavior is routine rather than isolated in nature. When Jenna begins her extramarital affair it presents a serious threat to her personal safety as well as that of her unborn child. This seems like very dramatic subject matter to be handled in a comedy. When the two lovers are together there is a constant concern regarding the possibility of exposure and a foreboding threat of physical violence.
The subject of adultery plays a major role in WAITRESS. Although it is obvious why Jenna would be attracted to the likeable good looking doctor, he on the other hand, is supposedly happily married. In an obvious attempt to make him seem more sympathetic we, the viewers, don't meet his unsuspecting wife until near the end of the film. There's no doubt that if we were to see things from her point of view Jenna would be perceived much differently. Indeed from the wife's point of view Jenna is the other woman and a "homewrecker".
Another problem with the film lies in its stereotyped depiction of men. All of the male characters are either immoral, grumpy, or stupid. Jenna's husband is a mean brute, the doctor is rather bumbling as well as being a liar and cheat. Also, one of the waitresses' boyfriend is a goofball stalker and their male boss is continuously verballly browbeating his staff as well as carrying on an affair of his own. The diner's owner (played by Andy Griffith) is portrayed as grouchy and difficult to deal with although true to the cliche he is revealed as having a heart of gold at the end of the movie.
Another problem with the film is its unrealistic resolution. All through WAITRESS we are made to feel that poor Jenna's plight is hopeless. She's married to an abuser, having a kid she doesn't want, carrying on an affair with a married man, and living a dreary life. Then in an instant screenwriter Shelly throws us a curveball which comes out of the blue. It is both very unrealistic as well as out of character. Futhermore, the final scenes in the film play more like a fantasy sequence and the ending is similar to that of a fairy tale.
WAITRESS could have been a homespun feel good film but instead it feels marred by some disturbing elements. Unfortunately viewers may also be aware of the behind the scenes tragedy surrounding the movie. After filming writer, co-star, and director Adrienne Shelly was murdered and this casts a long shadow over the production. We are left to wonder how this talented filmmaker would have progressed in her work if only she's had the opportunity.
C.L. Illsley
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