Waitress (2007)
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A woman trapped in an abusive marriage seeks escape through a pie contest while navigating an unexpected pregnancy.
The story
Jenna Hunterson lives in the American South, trapped in an unhappy marriage with her controlling and abusive husband, Earl. While working at Joe's Pie Diner, she creates inventive pies and begins accumulating money to escape her life. Her plans are complicated when she discovers she is pregnant. Seeking a way out, she pins her hopes on a nearby pie contest with a $25,000 grand prize. However, her husband remains controlling, and Jenna must navigate her growing attraction to her new obstetrician, Jim Pomatter, while trying to secure her independence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jenna Hunterson is trapped in an abusive marriage to Earl in the American South. While working at Joe's Pie Diner, she invents pies like the 'Bad Baby Pie' after confirming an unintended pregnancy. She secretly saves money to enter a $25,000 pie contest to escape her husband. Jenna begins an affair with her new obstetrician, Jim Pomatter. After Earl discovers her cash stashes and demands she promise not to love the baby more than him, Jenna flees to Jim, where her water breaks. At the hospital, she discovers Joe is also a patient; he gives her an envelope to open after birth. Jenna gives birth to a daughter, Lulu, and stands up to Earl, declaring she wants a divorce and will not let him mistreat her. He is escorted out by security. Later, she learns Joe is in a coma. She opens his envelope to find a sketch and a check for $270,450. She decides to end her affair with Jim out of respect for his wife. Finally, Jenna wins the contest, opens 'Lulu's Pies', and walks home happily with her daughter.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Adrienne Shelly
- Writers
- Adrienne Shelly · writer
- Cast and characters
- Keri Russell · Jenna Hunterson; Nathan Fillion · Dr. Jim Pomatter; Cheryl Hines · Becky; Adrienne Shelly · Dawn; Eddie Jemison · Ogie Anhorn; Jeremy Sisto · Earl Hunterson; Andy Griffith · Joe; Lew Temple · Cal
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- domestic violence; pregnancy; independence; escape
- Tone and mood
- sweet; smart; quirky; bittersweet; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- romantic comedy-drama; cooking; domestic violence; pregnancy
- Content notes
- domestic violence
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews, being described as a sweet, smart, and quirky romantic comedy with a superb performance by Keri Russell. It was noted for its quality star wattage and was included on a list of the best American independent films of the 21st century.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 89% · scale: Fresh · review count: 171; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- Keri Russell's performance in the film partly inspired her casting as the voice of Wonder Woman in the 2009 animated film.; The film was adapted into a Tony-nominated musical in 2015.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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