I've complained before about how independent film has become just as cookie cutter as mainstream movies, mainly the quirky lead character blueprint. "Waitress" follows that and also include the assortment of quirky supporting cast that often fills the bill. Jenna (Keri Russell) is a waitress in a pie diner, who also has a talent for creating interesting pies of her own. As the movie opens, she learns she is pregnant. She is not thrilled with the news, as she is in the middle of a horrible marriage to an abusive husband (Jeremy Sisto), who may also be one of the most irritating characters on film (HONK, HONK, HONK!!). The movie follows us through her pregnancy and her incredibly inappropriate relationship with her obstetrician (Nathan Fillion), along with the struggles of dealing with her husband, who she wants nothing more than to get away from. The setting in the deep south and its offbeat people makes this slightly reminiscent of the work of the Coen Brothers, except not nearly as good. As "chick flicks" go, this one is better than most. Andy Griffith (who has become so old he is almost unrecognizable) is one of the bright spots of the movie as the eccentric old man who owns the diner and always seems to be able to read exactly what is going on in Jenna's life. He informally becomes her conscience, giving her unsolicited advice based on what he believes she is up to (and seems to always be right). The odd pacing and storytelling (pies are often shown being made with voice-over to explain how those pies reflect her feelings) took a little getting used to, as did the diner setting which was way too similar to the TV show "Alice". The bottom line is that this is a pretty good "chick flick", but at the end of the day, it IS a "chick flick".Grade: C
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