"Waitress" was an absolute feast for my soul.
When I first heard about "Waitress" it was because I found an article about the tragic death of the director Adrienne Shelley.
What followed is that I found out what her latest movies were.
I checked out the reviews and they seemed to be, on the whole, very pleased.
So, I decided to watch it for myself.
I was absolutely floored.
The plot, in the simplest of words, is about a small town diner waitress by the name of Jenna (played by Keri Russell).
Well, this waitress gets knocked up by her horrible husband in a night of drunkenness.
Everyone around her thinks it is the greatest thing that she is having a baby..
...
except for her.
All that Jenna wants to do is use her talent to bake pies and run off to the national pie bake off.
To add some extra flavor to the plot, she falls in love with her gynecologist and proceeds to have an affair.
There is something absolutely hilarious about this pie waitress not wanting this baby, but also very dark too.
Keri Russell, as the waitress Jenna, was at the top of her game.
Her emotional range in this movie is absolutely intriguing.
There is a scene in which she has just had the baby, the emotional change in her face from distant and cold to open and loving is worth watching the movie in itself.
Not only that, but we get to see Russell in a comedic role (which is not too usual for her).
My favorite character was Andie Griffith as Joe the diner owner.
A crotchety, but kind old man, he gives Jenna the perspective that she so badly needs.
In other words, someone who will step back and give her the truth of the matter.
The lighting was absolutely thrilling.
It was so angelic through the whole thing.
It added highlighting to warm scenes, and it brought hope and happiness to the rougher scenes.
The colors were absolutely beautiful too.
The colors in that last pie diner scene made me want to jump in and put on those silly little outfits (not to mention, grab a piece of each pie).
What is so amazing about this film is that it has the perfect emotional balance between light and dark.
This movie carries some very important messages too.
One is that one should never settle for that which does not make them happy.
People are worth so much more their weight in gold.
If someone treats you badly, it is not worth the love they give you.
You can find something or someone that treats you so much better.
First, you have to love yourself.
That is the second message...
you have to love yourself before you can love others.
Jenna thought she didn't want to have the baby.
Subconsciously, the baby is a representation of her.
The only way she knows how to express herself is baking pies.
She doesn't want the baby, because she doesn't appreciate herself.
When the baby physically comes into the world, it is a completely different story.
She is forced to look at herself and examine herself objectively.
When she is physically able to examine herself she can see the potential and feel the love for herself.
Once she feels that she is free to be happy and pursue those things which will fulfill her..
..
not hold her back.
That is when she truly loves the baby.
Start to see "Waitress" as a tribute to the creative genius who created it.
Then enjoy it for its wide range of emotions.
Finally, wish you had a piece of Jenna's Chocolate Strawberry Oasis pie..
...
Then get real and go buy a real pie at Shari's.
You'll need it.