In FOX Searchlight's Waitress, Keri Russell stars as Jenna Hunterton, a waitress (no surprises there) at a small town diner. Jenna is a talented pie baker, using her original concoctions to capture and express the highlights of her life, including everything from her mundane daily chores to her miserable marriage to Earl (Jeremy Sisto). When Jenna finds out she is pregnant, she is sure her dead-end life is doomed, and takes solace in the comfort of her encouraging friends Dawn (Adrienne Shelly, who also wrote and directed the film) and Becky (Cheryl Hines).

Jenna inevitably meets the town's new Ob-Gyn, Dr. Pommater (Nathan Fillion), and is taken aback by his charm and concern for her. Their relationship turns romantic, however, without reason or remorse. The doctor is also married, but like Jenna is searching for fulfillment through honest companionship either has yet to experience.

While Waitress could have taken this affair into a distasteful direction, the film maintained its integrity throughout the story and actually evoked sympathy -- without ever seeking to justify the wrongful actions of the characters.

Joe (Andy Griffith), who owns the pie diner, serves as a Jenna's mentor, lending both wisdom and humor to the plot. While Joe set a plumb line for the film, Andy Griffith certainly cast one for the actors as well; he conveys the warmth and sincerity in Joe with gracious ease, delivering a performance as assured as any in his long career.

The late Adrienne Shelly wrote, directed, and co-starred in this beautiful, simple film that captures the simple existence of a rural neighborhood, but doesn't skimp on any details that give it true character. Yes, there are gossiping girlfriends, delicious desserts, and illicit affairs that could have been read right out of a Dear Abby column. The dialogue is quick and witty, yet so brutally honest it sounds like real human conversation, rather than clever scripting. The characters, though endlessly flawed, remain likable and genuine.

The DVD offers commentary by Russell and the producer, Michael Roiff, as well as many other behind-the-scenes featurettes. Russell, Hines, and Fillion are individually featured in their own character close-up interviews. A quick glimpse at the making of the film also contributes to its likeability, reflecting the camaraderie that the cast and crew had come to develop on such a meagerly budgeted film.

But the most treasured of the special features is a memorial to Shelly, who was killed before she could know the film had been accepted (and later went on to win several accolades) at the Sundance Film Festival. Shelly first dazzled us with her performances in Hal Hartley's earliest features, the wry comedies The Unbelievable Truth (1989) and Trust (1990). She went on to become a talented writer and director, as well. The Adrienne Shelly Foundation was formed in her honor to help pave the way for female filmmakers in the future. More information about the foundation can be found here.
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