Waitress (DVD)

I loved Waitress even more at home than I did in the theater, and considering I feel this sunny valentine to love, loss and homespun dreaming is one of the very best comedies of the year that's probably saying something. The final film of writer, director and actress Adrienne Shelly (a horrific tragedy Brad has gone into already and I will not dive into again here), this is one of those effervescent pop entertainments that transcends its simple roots to become something magical. It is a wonderful movie and even a better DVD, and for those looking to have nothing more then a good time this is the disc you've been searching for.

The film follows small town waitress and master pie chef Jenna (Keri Russell) as she deals with impending motherhood, a bad marriage to abusive husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto) and an extramarital affair with her OBGYN Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion). Throw in a couple of best friends (and fellow waitresses) Becky (Cheryl Hines) and Dawn (Shelly), the curmudgeonly cantankerous Old Joe (Oscar-winner Andy Griffith) and a boss, Cal (Lew Temple), who isn't anywhere near the belligerent cuss everyone seems to think he is and Jenna's life is the proverbial rollercoaster.

Waitress is breezily funny, perfectly paced and filled with winning performances by its entire cast. Griffith, in particular, is a wonder, disappearing so completely inside Old Joe when the expected (and the cliché) unfortunately finally comes it is still impossible not to reach for the Kleenex and shed a quiet tear. This is the type of feel-good dramatic comedy a person smiles about afterwards, and even with a few early missteps and a couple moments of sitcom-like idiocy it is still a monstrously entertaining valentine to perseverance and creativity impossible to ignore.

For Russell, between this and the equally enjoyable (if far more saccharine) August Rush, 2007 is quietly turning into a magnificent year. She's in just about every scene here, holding the screen with tenacity and grace I didn't think this one-time star of television's "Felicity" was capable of. Without a doubt, her work here is some of the best from any actress I've seen this year, and part of me can't help but think had Fox Searchlight held the release on this a little bit longer we might even be talking about her for an Oscar nom. That's probably a fantasy, true, but it doesn't mean I still don't think Russell is magnificent here. And the same goes for the DVD.

While not filled with extras, the ones that are here are still rather strong and definitely worth watching. The featurettes, especially "This Is How We Made Waitress Pie" and "Written and Directed by Adrienne Shelly: A Memorial," are universally solid while the commentary track between Russell and producer Michael Roiff is downright sensational. All that's missing are some of the recipes for a few of the pies (all having cute monikers like "I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong & I Don't Want Earl to Kill Me Pie" and "Bad Baby Pie"), but that's a small problem considering how much I adore the rest of Fox's package here.

So, I loved Waitress, loved it one heck of a lot, and I'm quite positive just about anyone who takes the time to watch it is going to love it, too. It's so good, in fact, I can't wait for a second helping of this marvelously hilarious (and witty) slice of comedic heaven. Heck, maybe I'll even screw the diet and ask for a little whip cream.