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'Waitress': What Do Male Viewers Think?

posted 15 years ago by owenrcarpenter
35 replies | jump to latest

First I have to put my cards on the table and admit that I loved 'Waitress'. I was a huge fan of Adrienne Shelly for many years and I was devestated at the news of her brutal murder in the fall of '06. I thought that her final film was a fitting epitath for an extremely talented actress and film-maker who - had she lived - would have gone on to make Oscar-winners within a few years. 'Waitress' could be written off as a simple 'chick-flick' were it not for Shelly's witty script and subtle direction. This was a film which portrayed all the characters, not just the female ones, as fully rounded individuals with all the according strengths and weaknesses. This movie contained many archetypical characters, but I didn't see one stereotypical one. It was moving, compassionate and wise.

I would be interested in what other male viewers think. Did they get dragged to the movie by a girlfrield and leave pleasantly surprised? Were they bored and/or disapointed by the film? Or is their experience somewhere in between? I would be very interested to hear their reasoning whatever position they subscribe to.

[–] NuggetsVSCavs 14 years ago

I loved it. I thought the camera angles that largely focused on Keri Russell was very brilliant and beautifully shot. An overall very good romantic comedy that could have been better if the husband character was a real character instead of a cartoonish evil sociopath.

I have to return some video tapes

[–] jetgraphics 14 years ago

I like the actors, but to be honest, the movie didn't resonate with me. It was a "chick flick" with little to engage my gender. I felt that it was unrealistic and a reflection of female fantasies made manifest.

I guess that's a good description - a daydream fantasy played out on the silver screen.

I don't necessarily dislike women-centric films. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Women" (1939), and thought the characters were richly drawn. It was fun to watch. I also liked "Where the Heart Is" (2000). Quirky characters. Good fun.

But this movie was painful, and not really fun to watch. I don't know if it was made to be intentionally irritating, but it was for me.

[–] Alihou 14 years ago

As a male viewer, I thought it was a very good movie (7.5/10). I wondered though, would she have stayed with the Dr. if she hadn't received that check from Joe? Jenna's character imo lost some of her integrity b/c she used Jim when she was going through her problems to escape from her husband. She then divorces the husband and later gives the middle finger to Jim b/c she sees innocence in the eyes of her wife (who she saw for about 2 minutes). I might say this b/c I actually liked Jim in that movie but in fairness we never heard about how bad or good his wife was... The theme however stands "starting fresh" and gives hope to people who think all is lost.

[–] master_of_all 14 years ago

I enjoyed it.
It wasn't anything too demanding, but pleasent enough.

7/10

Elvira mistress of the dark is the coolest woman ever.
DCI Gene Hunt (UK) coolest man ever.

[–] remorselessd 13 years ago

I posted a pretty lengthy critique of "Waitress" on this board shortly after its release on video, but it seems to have been removed. To sum it up, I felt that this movie took a very dim view towards men and ultimately carried the message that the only good man is one who writes you a huge check and then dies directly afterwards. It was an aggressively misandric piece, even by "struggles of a single mom movie" standards.

[–] andromache3 13 years ago

How on earth was it misandric? Seriously? Because Jenna left her husband and decided not to settle down with the doctor, instead choosing life as a single mother? Would you have considered it misandric if she'd instead chosen to remain in an abusive marriage with her husband or maybe taken the rebound relationship with the doctor, who didn't love Jenna as much as she didn't love him? I don't understand where you're coming from.

"When we make mistakes, it's evil. When God makes mistakes, it's nature."

[–] remorselessd 13 years ago

Every man in it save for Matlock was a scumbag. Sisto's character was such an outrageously, cartoonishly disgusting cretin that it was difficult to root for a main character who would even talk to a guy like him. Fillion's doctor starts out as the typical "sensitive guy who comes to the rescue of the poor woman trapped in an abusive relationship" before he too turns out to be nothing but a womanizing cad. The nerdy guy who writes love poems (forgive me as I haven't seen this in years) was one-dimensionally creepy and when the nerdy waitress finally agrees to give him a shot it seems due less to his merits as a person and more out of desperation. The only male character in this who is portrayed in a remotely positive way is the old man played by Matlock, who basically does little other than offer a few kind words to the titular waitress before dying and leaving her a big chunk of money with which to start her own pie shop (on a side note, if there's a better example of a deus ex machina ending outside of Jurassic Park, let me know).

[–] amanda-shay 13 years ago

What about Ogie? Even though he's a little weird, I liked his character.

[–] remorselessd 13 years ago

that would be the "nerdy" guy mentioned in my post, and while I think the actor did a good job with the role I wouldn't count that as a sympathetic character.

[–] Annie_Chan5 13 years ago

But every person in it was a bit of a scumbag. Well, the husband was completely a scumbag and the shy waitress wasn't so bad. But everyone else in the film was either cheating on somebody or had very offputting personality traits. I wouldn't say that it comes out as misandric at all.
I didn't think Fillion turned out to be a womanizing cad at all. He was cheating on his spouse, but so was Jenna, and in the end it seemed that he had fallen in love with her and truly wanted to make a go of it, where as she had just used him as emotional support during a difficult time in her life. Everyone was flawed and making questionable decisions in order to make themselves happy.

[–] pffreese 13 years ago

Just saw it on TV. I had other things to do today but I couldn't take myself away from it. I wanted to punch Jeremy Sisto. I liked all 3 waitresses. I haven't seen much of Cheryl Hines' work, just in Suburgatory with Sisto; nice to see her in another character. The ending was surprising but being an indie I shouldn't have expected a completely cliche Kate Hudson ending. Now I want pie.

[–] CatelynTullyDidNothingWrong 13 years ago

Now I want pie.

Same. All those pies sounded delicious, except those weird green and blue ones.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2qi2reh.jpg

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Tadashii 13 years ago

Had to get my dad to watch this by giving him only two options, this or 50/50. He refuses to watch movies where someone is sick, so he picked this, grumbling all the while.

I didn't think he was all that interested, and since I'd already watched it before I went to bed, figuring he'd turn it off once I left. The next day he told me he'd liked it, that it was a simple little predictable story.

When it comes to my father I notice he has serious reservations about starting a "chick flick" or anything without a lot of violence/action (those are his favourite movies like a lot of guys) but once the movie starts he usually will watch and enjoy them for what they are.

[–] anthonyjohnFReynolds 13 years ago

A real witty, perverse, suprise. A kinda one woman Cohen brothers movie/

Loved it.

"ah have always depended upon the strangeness of kindness..."

[–] boonjj 13 years ago

loved it except for her husband. he was just to much of a bastard with no redeeming qualities and came across as a mere plot device instead of an actual character

it didnt lessen the films qualities too much though. i gave it a 9/10 regardless