Food in Film: WAITRESS Movie

  Waitress Provides A Perfect Slice of Food in Film

Pies have seen their fair share of screen-time. Who could forget the pie scene in The Help or, for that matter, in American Pie? But if you’re hankering for a slice of quirky and adorable – WAITRESS, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly’s before her untimely death, weaves a tale of homespun Americana that’s so visually caloric, you could gain 5 lbs with every viewing.

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with a critical mission: Supporting Women Filmmakers.

In this 2007 film, Keri Russell stars as Jenna – a desolate diner waitress seeking solace in the art of pie-making. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, she’s eager to escape her husband and her small-town hell and sets about to make a run for it by entering an out of town pie baking contest. Only she soon discovers Earl (Jeremy Sisto), her asinine and emotionally abusive husband, has gotten her pregnant, thwarting her plans and dashing all hope, leaving Jenna to bake her dissatisfaction and emotions into her incredibly delicious pies at Joe’s Diner – “I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby Pie”. “I Hate My Husband Pie”, “Pregnant Miserable Self Pitying Loser Pie”. Cheryl Hines and director Shelley, play Jenna’s best friends and co-waitresses at the diner. Fans of the show “Alice” might see them as versions of Vera and Flo. And the late, Andy Griffith plays a key role as the gruff diner regular.

More than the pies get heated when Jenna begins an affair with her married OB/GYN (Nathan Fillion). The movie is a pinch of sweetness, a teaspoon of sadness, a handful of zany, and a mixture of delight.

Around the Web

#1: Blue Plate Special I DON’T WANT EARL’S BABY PIE or BAD BABY PIE – Quiche with egg and brie cheese with a smoked ham center (later referred to as BAD BABY QUICHE PIE by old Joe)

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#2: KICK IN THE PANTS PIE – Cinnamon spice custard (Today’s Special)

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#3: I HATE MY HUSBAND PIE – “You make it with bittersweet chocolate and don’t sweeten it. You make it into a pudding and drown it in caramel …”

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#4: SPAGHETTI PIE – has at home with husband

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#5: MARSHMELLOW MERMAID PIE – From when she was in her mermaid stage. Pie made for Dr. Mueller, and given later in the appointment to Dr. Pomatter. “Biblically good!”

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#6: FALLIN’ IN LOVE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE – made for Dawn

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#7: BABY SCREAMING IT’S HEAD OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND RUINING MY LIFE PIE – New York-style cheesecake, brandy brushed and topped with pecans and nutmeg

Pie #8: PEACHY KEEN TARTS – made for Dr. Pomatter

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#9: EARL MURDERS ME BECAUSE I’M HAVING AN AFFAIR PIE – “You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust.”

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#10: I CAN’T HAVE NO AFFAIR BECAUSE IT’S WRONG AND I DON’T WANT EARL TO KILL ME PIE – “Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana …”

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