Waitress

by Julia Bottles

From the opening frames, director Adrienne Shelly's film Waitress walks a fine line between light comedy and over-the-top camp. Jenna (Keri Russell) holds a home pregnancy test in her hands awaiting the result as her fellow waitresses Dawn and Becky throw out emotionally exaggerated lines at her. It shouldn't work, but somehow it does, setting the tone for the rest of the film.

The film continues to follow Jenna through the early stages of her pregnancy, a lens into an unhappy life lightened only by her pie-making genius. As Jenna plots her escape from her hated husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto), she finds passion in the arms of her neurotic obstetrician Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion). Their affair grows into something more than mere physical attraction, and the miserable waitress gets a glimpse at happiness.

Waitress will be shown at the Forum this Thursday Feb. 14 for Valentine’s Day.