Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Baby, Don't Ya Cry


So, I just got back from an advance screening of the movie Waitress. Now, I won't tell you that I've never seen a better film, or a sweeter film, or a more appropriate date movie. (Okay, scratch the latter; this may be the best date movie I can remember seeing.) But what I will say is that it was a pleasure to watch. It was funny without being cheesy, and it was not overly chic-flicky. It was just a damn nice movie.

I'm sure there are cinematic flaws and shortcomings, to be sure. I'm no expert on great movies, but I sure know that I was drawn into this story, into the characters and their lives. I was pulling for the good guys and damning the bad beneath my breath. Keri Russel had me from the get-go. The bad husband actor made a really great, pathetic bad guy. The two other waitress actresses, including Adrienne Shelley (RIP), were perfect complements to Russell's character. Nathon Fillion...let's not even bother with that justification: suffice it to say he's as good as ever.

All around, this movie more than stands alone as an artistic accomplishment. Never mind the fact that it was the big (mainstream) break of Adrienne Shelley, yes, who also wrote it and was murdered last year after its completion, and never mind the droves of disgruntled Firefly (and now Drive) fans that will flock to anything with Mr. Fillion just to prove to Fox that more than one executive needs his head examined. It's funny, it's witty, and it's touching, and I highly recommend it to anyone facing adult life's slings and arrows.

Especially if you're on a date.