Waitress

Writer-director Adrienne Shelly was tragically murdered shortly after completing this cute and clever indie film, in which Keri Russell (TV's Felicity) plays Jenna, a small-town Southern waitress who bakes a mean pie. Newly pregnant and trapped in a bad marriage, Jenna embarks on an affair with her gynecologist (Nathan Fillion) in a last-ditch effort to bring some happiness into what she believes is a very dreary existence. Her best pals are brightly played by Cheryl Hines and Shelly herself, with Andy Griffith also registering solidly in a small role. As romantic comedies go, Waitress works primarily because it doesn't hew too closely to accepted patterns—whether it would have presaged bigger and better things for Shelly, we'll sadly never know. Recommended. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, DVD extras include audio commentary by producer Michael Roiff and star Keri Russell, the behind-the-scenes featurette “This is How We Made Waitress Pie” (10 min.), “Written and Directed by Adrienne Shelly: A Memorial” (7 min.), “Hi! I'm Keri, I'll Be Your Waitress” (6 min.), the Fox Movie Channel produced “In Character” segments with costars Russell (4 min.), Cheryl Hines (4 min.), and Nathan Fillion (3 min.), “The Pies Have It!” on cast members' favorite pies (3 min.), a message from Russell on the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid film.] (E. Hulse)