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"WAITRESS" (2007) (Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Minor Extreme Minor None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None Minor Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Heavy Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Dramedy: When an unhappily married, small town waitress discovers she's pregnant, she must figure out what to do with her life, especially after she unexpectedly falls for her obstetrician. PLOT: Jenna (KERI RUSSELL) is a waitress at Joe's Pie Diner, a small-town restaurant owned by the ornery Old Joe (ANDY GRIFFITH) and run by no-nonsense cook Cal (LEW TEMPLE). Jenna's specialty is making themed pies, but she's currently more concerned about unexpectedly being pregnant. It isn't that she's single, it's just that Earl (JEREMY SISTO) is a self-centered, deadbeat husband who wants her kept in her place, and certainly doesn't want her entering a $25,000 pie-baking contest. Accordingly, she confides in her coworkers, outspoken Becky (CHERYL HINES) whose husband is in some sort of vegetative state, and mousy Dawn (ADRIENNE SHELLY) who initially isn't sure how to respond to Ogie (EDDIE JEMISON), a date who's turned out to be overzealously obsessed with her. Things get even more complicated when Jenna finds herself falling for her married obstetrician, Jim Pomatter (NATHAN FILLION), a kind and caring man who soon develops similar feelings toward her. Desperate for a new start and not crazy about being pregnant, Jenna must decide what to do with her life. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of someone in the cast (especially Russell) they might - otherwise it's questionable how enticing this will be for any other kids. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual content, language and thematic elements. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: KERI RUSSELL plays a diner waitress whose specialty is baking unique pies. She isn't happy about being pregnant to a controlling husband, and tries to hide money away so that she can leave him one day. She uses some profanity, and has an affair with Dr. Pomatter despite both being married to others. NATHAN FILLION plays her new obstetrician who falls for and has an affair with her despite being married as well as serving as her doctor. CHERYL HINES plays Jenna's outspoken coworker who tries to help her through her predicament. She smokes a few times, and has an affair with Cal despite both being married. ADRIENNE SHELLY plays their mousy coworker whose life brightens once she accepts Ogie for who and what he is (as her boyfriend). JEREMY SISTO plays Jenna's self-centered husband who wants to keep her in her place. While he behaves like a controlling jerk, he does show signs of somewhat loving her. He uses some strong profanity. ANDY GRIFFITH plays the cantankerous owner of the diner who tries to give Jenna homespun advice about how to live her life. EDDIE JEMISON plays Dawn's date who becomes overzealously obsessive about her, but ends up winning her over. LEW TEMPLE plays the no-nonsense diner boss and cook who's always after Becky for her work ethic, but turns out to be having an affair with her. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as are various scenes showing couples having sex and/or fooling around (played for comedy rather than eroticism). Strategically arranged nudity (of two pregnant women) is imagined in one scene for comedy. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, including several people cheating on their spouses by having affairs with others (and a doctor having one with a patient). Tense family and thematic material includes a pregnant woman not being happy in her marriage to her controlling, self-centered husband who occasionally strikes her when upset. There's brief smoking, while some alcohol is seen and referenced, and some comments are made about morning sickness and vomiting, but nothing is directly seen. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a spin around camera shot of Jenna kissing Jim, while there's some handheld camerawork in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE When Jenna tells her friends she's pregnant, Becky says, "I thought you weren't sleeping with your husband anymore." Jenna then says he got her drunk and that's when it happened. We see a beer by Earl as he eats dinner. About her pending labor, Jenna says she wants drugs, adding that she'd like the maximum legal amount. BLOOD/GORE It's implied that Jenna vomits from morning sickness. On several occasions and for the real reason or just as an excuse to leave, Jenna says she has to go throw up. Jenna says she's bleeding (spotting) a bit, but we don't see anything and the doctor says it's normal. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE When Jenna gets into the car with Earl, he immediately wants the money she just earned at work. Back at home, he asks why she needs money. Jenna tells Jim she doesn't want the baby, but clarifies that she's keeping it, but just doesn't want one. Cal calls Becky a heifer and seems mad at her, but it's more of a friendly put-down since we later see them having an affair. About some woman, Joe says he made sweet love to her all through the summer of 1948. He then says she got pregnant, but then lost the baby, adding that it was a close call (for him). After Jenna applies makeup to Dawn's face, Becky jokes that the latter's skin finally looks like a normal person. Dawn refers to Ogie as the "mad stalking elf" who won't let her be after their 5-minute date (but they later end up as a happy couple). Despite both being married to others, Jim and Jenna begin having an affair (with him also being her doctor). The same holds true for Becky and Cal later in the film (with talk of her husband being an invalid). Jenna briefly says (seriously or not) that she's thinking of selling her baby once it arrives (to get the money she needs to allow her to move away from Earl). Not knowing she's pregnant, Earl tells Jenna, "You sure is getting fat, baby." Earl tells Jenna he'd tell her to get rid of the baby (an abortion) but then says he wants her in the same place in the hereafter with him. He then makes her promise that she won't love their baby more than him. Earl playfully calls Jenna "porky." Earl tells Jenna to "treat me like a man" (meaning sexually). When she replies she doesn't feel like it, he asks who says she has that option, and tells her to do what he tells her. He then gets behind her (side by side) on the bed, wanting sex, but she tells him to stop. Earl crashes Dawn and Ogie's wedding reception (due to being mad at Jenna for hiding money in their house), grabs a folding chair, and throws it aside (we hear the sound of something breaking). Back at home, he pushes her along while pointing out where she's hidden the money. Earl takes the leftover money Jenna had been hiding and says he'll buy a video camera with it. He then playfully tells her that maybe when she gets her figure back, they can make a few nasty tapes. FRIGHTENING SCENES Having found her hidden money throughout the house, Earl drives to Jenna, slaps her hard, tells her to shut up and get in the car, and then shoves her head several times until they get home. Jenna is in pain during labor. We hear that Joe is in a coma following his surgery, but we don't ever see him. GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "It's all over the f*cking house," "Slut girlfriend," "Shut up and get in the car," "Knocked up," "Naughty pumpkin pie," "He is a sexual dynamo," "She had big ones" (breasts), "Joe's horny past," "The hell of unwanted pregnancy," "You blowhard," "Hold your balls straight," "Bitching about," "You bucket of cheese," "Calm down, you psychotic ape," "You heifer," "Too damn warm," "Whatever the hell that means," "The mad stalking elf," "I gotta go throw up," "A crazy little freak," "Why the hell not?" "Same bastard as yesterday," "A common hussy," "Porky," "I want to know what the hell you're doing here," "Who the hell does anymore?" "Thirty seconds to get your ass in gear," "Dear damn baby," "Don't say nothing smart ass," "I want you the hell out of my life," "Your sorry ass," "He's a scaly old gator" and "Jeez." A child throws food at his mother, and later shoots silly-string all over her. Whenever Earl drives up to pick up Jenna, he repeatedly honks his horn many times. Cal has a tattoo. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has a line about wanting a girl with eyes that burn like a cigarette, and one with a short skirt. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 1 "s" word, 4 slang terms for breasts ("boob(s)" and "big ones"), 11 damns, 7 hells, 3 asses and 4 uses of "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY When Jenna tells her friends she's pregnant, Becky says, "I thought you weren't sleeping with your husband anymore." Jenna then says he got her drunk and that's when it happened. Becky then asks Jenna if she's sure it's his child, with Jenna replying she hasn't been unfaithful. Becky complains that her right "boob" is higher than the left one (she's clothed, but points to them while making her point). When Jenna enters the obstetrician office, she images two pregnant patients in the waiting room sitting there nude (with their bare bellies and held magazines blocking any views of explicit nudity, but we otherwise see full body views of them). We also see a poster that shows a cutaway side view of a pregnant woman (a drawing) and her bare breast and child in utero. Jim asks Jenna if she has any questions about pregnancy, such as about sex or exercise, but Jenna matter-of-factly replies she doesn't do much of either of those things. When she's told how far along she is in her pregnancy, Jenna does the math in her head and then says that yes, that was her husband getting her pregnant. We see Jenna in her bra as she's changing clothes. About some woman, Joe says he made sweet love to her all through the summer of 1948. He then says she got pregnant, but then lost the baby, adding that it was a close call (for him). Becky comments again about her mismatched breasts, thinking one is drooping more than the other, adding that she feels like something Picasso made. When Dawn complains about her date dress being tight in the seat, Becky says that men like a little meat back there. Becky then tells Dawn to have fun on her 5-minute date, adding, "Use a 5-minute condom." In bed, Earl pleads "Please" to Jenna who doesn't answer, but then says she feels sick. He says it's been more than a month, and wonders if her "boobies" got bigger overnight (not knowing she's pregnant). He then says he has to be with her or he'll die, followed by a head and shoulders shot of him on top of her having sex. He tells her to kiss him and to say something sexy. She asks what he wants her to say, but just that's enough as he then climaxes, rolls off, and says that was great (with no response from Jenna who shows a little cleavage while wearing her nightgown). In a bit of spontaneous poetry, Ogie mentions that all his life he's met harlots. Jenna suddenly and passionately kisses Jim, and then does so again. Later, Joe sees the smeared lipstick on her face and comments, "Once you're done wiping away all of your indiscretions." He later "reads" something in a newspaper article about a "slut girlfriend." We see Earl asleep, partially on top of Jenna who doesn't look pleased. Jenna and Jim passionately kiss in his office (in an exaggerated fashion, for comedy). We see a montage of Jenna and Jim fooling around and/or having sex (him on top of her, between her legs -- but no nudity -- other passionate kissing and close contact, etc.). We then hear her verbal letter to her unborn child where she says at first it was about the sex, and this is all played more for comedy than eroticism. Jenna brings a pie for Jim that she's named "naughty pumpkin pie," but he isn't there to receive it. About Ogie, Dawn says he's a "sexual dynamo." Jenna walks into the diner kitchen and catches Cal and Becky making out, clothed and standing, with her leg up alongside him. When Jenna later calls her on that, Becky says that he helps her forget various things, including the dreadful displacement of her bosom (while Jenna says they're fine). Earl tells Jenna to "treat me like a man" (meaning sexually). When she replies she doesn't feel like it, he asks who says she has that option, and tells her to do what he tells her. He then gets behind her (side by side) on the bed, wanting sex, but she tells him to stop. We see Jim nuzzling on Jenna's neck while they're cooking. Jim and Jenna do some passionate kissing, with her sitting on his lap, facing him (both are clothed). Ogie does a bit of poetry where he says something about sex. Becky shows some cleavage. About his third wife, Joe says she had "big ones" and was nasty (meaning sexually). Jenna then jokes about making a pie called "Joe's horny past." Earl takes the leftover money Jenna had been hiding and says he'll buy a video camera with it. He then playfully tells her that maybe when she gets her figure back, they can make a few nasty tapes. SMOKING Becky smokes at least two times. A song has a line about wanting a girl with eyes that burn like a cigarette. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jenna isn't happy to be pregnant by her husband who she doesn't love. When Jenna gets into the car with Earl, he immediately wants the money she just earned at work. Back at home, he asks why she needs money. Jenna hides money inside the house, to keep it away from Earl (so that she has run-away money). Having found her hidden money throughout the house, Earl drives to Jenna, slaps her hard, tells her to shut up and get in the car, and then shoves her head several times until they get home. Earl tells Jenna to "treat me like a man" (meaning sexually). When she replies she doesn't feel like it, he asks who says she has that option, and tells her to do what he tells her. He then gets behind her (side by side) on the bed, wanting sex, but she tells him to stop. Earl crashes Dawn and Ogie's wedding reception (due to being mad at Jenna for hiding money in their house), grabs a folding chair, and throws it aside (we hear the sound of something breaking). Back at home, he pushes her along while pointing out where she's hidden the money. Jenna has a change of heart about her baby girl once she delivers and then holds her, and then tells Earl she wants him "the hell out of my life." When he won't leave the hospital room, some men grab and physically escort him away. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Being stuck in a loveless, unhappy and/or abusive relationship. Being pregnant (and not being happy about that). Despite both being married to others, Jim and Jenna begin having an affair. The same holds true for Becky and Cal later in the film (with talk of her husband being an invalid). Jenna not showing or feeling any positive emotion toward her baby until it finally arrives (which is when she changes her mind). We hear that Joe is in a coma following his surgery, but we don't ever see him. The fact that the film's director, who also plays Dawn, was murdered after the film was completed but before it was released. VIOLENCE Becky pushes Cal out of the way. Having found her hidden money throughout the house, Earl drives to Jenna, slaps her hard, tells her to shut up and get in the car, and then shoves her head several times until they get home. Earl crashes Dawn and Ogie's wedding reception (due to being mad at Jenna for hiding money in their house), grabs a folding chair, and throws it aside (we hear the sound of something breaking). Back at home, he pushes her along while pointing out where she's hidden the money. Jenna has a change of heart about her baby girl once she delivers and then holds her, and then tells Earl she wants him "the hell out of my life." When he won't leave the hospital room, some men grab and physically escort him away. Reviewed April 18, 2007 / Posted May 18, 2007

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