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Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly, Jeremy Sisto ... see more see more... , Lew Temple , Andy Griffith , Edward Jemison , Sarah Hunley , Darby Stanchfield , Nora Paradiso , Eddie Jemison

Trapped in a miserable marriage and blessed with the ability to transform her misery into delicious desserts, a small-town waitress finds her life forever changed by an unplanned pregnancy. Every day,... read more read more... Jenna (Keri Russell) ties on her apron and serves her customers with a smile, and every night she goes to bed knowing that she is one step closer to the day that she can kiss her scarily domineering husband (Jeremy Sisto) goodbye forever. A smart and sassy baker whose extraordinary pies are inspired by her daily trials and tribulations, Jenna fears that her dreams are all but dead when handsome Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion) reveals that she is soon to become a mother. As Jenna begins penning a series of letters to her unborn baby, her life starts to change for the better in ways she never could have imagined. The final film from actress/filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, Waitress debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah just months after the director was discovered dead in her New York City apartment -- the victim of a homicide. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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67% liked it

396,842 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

165 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Adrienne Shelly

Release Date: May 2, 2007

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DVD Release Date: November 27, 2007

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Stats: 19,509 reviews

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Keri Russell Waitress Waitress Keri Russell as Jenna with Andy Griffith as Old Joe in Waitress (2007) Waitress Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion in WAITRESS Keri Russell in WAITRESS Cheryl Hines, Keri Russell, and Adrienne Shelly in WAITRESS Nathan Fillion and Keri Russell in WAITRESS Keri Russell and Andy Griffith in WAITRESS Keri Russell and Andy Griffith in WAITRESS Keri Russell, Writer/Director Adrienne Shelly and Cheryl Hines on set of WAITRESS Jeremy Sisto and Keri Russell in WAITRESS Waitress
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Flixster Reviews (19,509)

  • Deano78
    November 26, 2011
    Deano78
    Well seems I'm the only person who didn't like this?! I thought it was a Rom-Com but it's more of a Rom-Drama. Quite weird and quirky, I just found it painfully slow, long and a bit boring. The 2nd half isn't too bad but the film didn't need any where near the run time. I would s... read moreay it's most like The good girl with Jennifer Aniston but I enjoyed that more than this.
  • danperry17
    June 27, 2011
    danperry17
    Waitress walks a very fine line between being a slice of life and a complete caricature of Middle America, but somehow, it's to the film's credit. It's a disorienting and unique movie, changing tone every few scenes and making you consistently wonder what will happen next, but I'... read morem not convinced that this was the director's intention. One of the major plot points adds great dramatic tension, but it's plausibility is a stretch: how did such a sweet woman like Jenna (Keri Russell) wind up marrying a bastard like Earl (Jeremy Sisto)?

    Sometimes this film is haunting or charming, and other times, it's community theatre bad. I enjoyed it more than I didn't, but this is a film that I can very easily see polarizing audiences.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Quirky and silly film but Sandra Bullock is really great
  • stevenecarrier
    May 15, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    "Waitress" is lovely if a bit slight. Keri Russell proves once again that she is a luminous, elegant actress and this is completely her film. This is charming and witty but ultimately light. It could have done with a bit more edge but for what it's worth, "Waitress" is still very... read more much worth seeing.
  • SirPant
    May 20, 2010
    SirPant
    This film should come with the following notice: Warning: The following motion picture will make you very hungry indeed!

    It's a lovely film though with some great performances. It's so sad about Adrienne Shelly, I would have loved to see more of her films. It's a shame that m... read moreany regard this film only a success because of her tragic death, a sentiment I feel terribly unfair. This film stands on it's own merit I feel, it's well written, charming and as nice as pie!
  • ScoopOnline
    December 10, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    R.I.P Adrienne
    Hand on my Chest: Creative, amusing, and heartwarming are the words I thought of when the end credits were scrolling up
  • LWOODS04
    November 29, 2009
    LWOODS04
    Keri Russell, Adrienne Shelly, Andy Griffith, Cheryl Hines, Nathon Fillion



    WAITRESS is the story of one woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape. Jenna's (Russell) secret ambition is to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbeari... read moreng and controlling husband(Sisto). Jenna is a sharp, sassy woman with a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials, tribulations and circumstances of her life. An unwanted pregnancy changes the course of events giving her an unexpected confidence via letters to her unborn baby.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



    Loved the story. Thought the movie was funny at times and sad at moments. Really felt for Keri Russell's character Jenna. You could feel her misery through the screen. Just wanted her to turn and beat the crap out of her husband. Jeremy Sisto did great playing the abusive ass of an husband. Wanted to smack him a few times myself. =)

    It was great to see Keri Russell in a leading role, and she was amazing. Loved the southern accent. Thought Andy Griffith was great. Loved his character. Just a really cute movie about not wanting to settle and wanting to break free from a relationship that is toxic. Definitely would recommend this one.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Actually way way better than i thought it was going to be. Nathan Fillion was charming for a cheating husband and Keri Russel was a lot better than what I remember her from. The story is quite tragic, but not so much so that I would call it a tragedy. There are definite moments o... read moref happiness and the message is really good.
  • TheMachinist
    September 1, 2009
    TheMachinist
    "I saw that look on a woman's face before. Her name was Annette. I made sweet sweet love to her all through the summer of 1948, and she had that look on her face all through the fall."

    Adrienne Shelly's small romantic drama was a nice surprise, although I can't say that I'll eve... read morer see 'Waitress' again. Shelly plays also part in the movie as the lead characters co-worker, Dawn. Those who read this review should know that Shelly was murdered after the film was completed... A tragic event, what else is there to be said.

    Keri Russell plays Jenna, an unhappy waitress who is pregnant. She works at a pie diner and makes the most unbeliavable pie's. But she wants to get out of this life and start over...

    'Waitress' is funny, touching and somewhat quirky. It's not your typical rom com with dramatic elements. It's different and much more pleasing than the Hollywood productions. This movie has heart.

    Why did I watch this then? You'd think that I'm not the targeted audience, for sure but its got Nathan Fillion in it! One of my favourites and surely one of the most underrated actors of our time. Watch 'Firefly' series and 'Serenity' and you'll know what I'm talking about...

    Andy Griffith ('Matlock') does a nice performance as the owner, Old Joe, of the diner. His dialogue, and his character, is the funniest of the bunch. Who wouldn't love an old geezer like that?

    Good acting and a surprisingly good story. That's all you need to fulfill the needs of the little optimist and romanticist in you.
  • Camus123
    April 15, 2009
    Camus123
    Steeped in misery and phenomenal character development this movie took me totally off-guard. This film is not how some would bill it-"chick flick", it is a film to be contemplated and savored from all angles. Our main character is Jenna played flawlessly by Keri Russell. This was... read more a complete surprise to me as I had only heard of her from her "Felicity" fame. Jenna, trapped in a horrible relationship with Earl (Jeremy Sisto) seeks ways to escape both real and imagined. Her means of escapism and remaining sane is to visualize the most wonderful pies where she displaces her anger or builds upon her love depending on the circumstance. It sounds silly, but you must see this in action to truly understand it as it is amazingly effective. Sisto plays a very odd monster. Not your usual, abusive husband, but something maybe even more diabolical as he is impossible to put your finger on. Maybe a mix of Borderline Personality with Antisocial traits and a bit of psychosis to bring around the flavor. Nathan Fillion plays the love interest and he is marvelous as always, but the story and Russell are the stars. This movie will take you in within ten minutes and not let you go. It could have ended about 10 minutes earlier than it did with regards to plotline, but I still enjoy where it went and understand why. Seriously, this movie is one that everyone can watch. It appears to just be sugar on the outside, but inside it is bittersweet and as much as I enjoyed it I don't know that I could watch it again as it had so many moments of heart-wrenching anguish borne of real, palpable pain that you can feel it swelling through the screen. Taste this as soon as you can. I waited far too long. As a side note, to Ms. Shelly the Writer/Director, you will be missed and your senseless loss/murder is a tragedy all its own

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Critic Reviews

Mark Bourne
November 28, 2007
Mark Bourne, Film.com

Waitress is not a perfectly cut, factory-line Safeway-brand slice. It does, though, serve up a generous deep-dish portion, homemade and heartfelt, that leaves a sweet taste goes down. Full Review

Roger Moore
May 24, 2007
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

This bittersweet romantic farce teeters and then tips into precious, a forgivable sin once you know this sweet movie's sad history. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
May 11, 2007
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

While Shelly's film trades in an especially outrageous form of girl-movie self-consciousness, she's completely sincere when it comes to making her heroine the irresistible repository of our sympathies. Full Review

Bruce Newman
May 11, 2007
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

Russell is the magic ingredient that holds all this together. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 11, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Waitress deserves an essay, not just a review. There are perfect moments that stand out, and the reasons for their perfection are interesting. Full Review

Liam Lacey
May 11, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Waitress is sweet, uneven and, ultimately, a heartbreaker. Full Review

Michael Booth
May 11, 2007
Michael Booth, Denver Post

So why does it work, at least much of the time? Because of Russell, and because Shelly's uneven tone also provides hints at brilliance. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
May 11, 2007
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Look, Waitress is no groundbreaker, and it's not likely to change anyone's life. But it provides a showcase for Russell, who knows how to make the most of it.

Teresa Budasi
May 11, 2007
Teresa Budasi, Chicago Sun-Times

We can only take comfort in the little slice of heaven she left behind. Full Review

Ty Burr
May 11, 2007
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Waitress isn't a great film, but it is great, deep-dish fun, with a generosity of spirit that extends first to the sisters on the screen and in the audience, then to the rest of humanity. Full Review

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Waitress Trivia

  • What did Sarah Connor work as before the Terminator arrived from the future?  Answer »
  • In Erin Brockovich, When Julia Roberts is in a restaurant with her kids, the real Erin Brockovich appears in a cameo as what?  Answer »
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