WAITRESS

SYNOPSIS:A waitress at Joe's Pie Diner, Jenna (Keri Russell) is also a pie making genius, naming her tantalizing confections after the events and emotions of her daily life. But Jenna isn't happy in her marriage and when she discovers that she's pregnant to her obnoxious husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto), her unhappiness deepens. She shares her troubles with her cheeky fellow waitresses Becky (Cheryl Hines) and Dawn (the late Adrienne Shelly), who present her with a baby book - which inspires her to write letters to her unborn baby, discovering a new self confidence. At the same time, a new young doctor comes to town, Dr Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), whose caring attention contrasts with Earl's brutish nature, inviting all sorts of potential for trouble.

Review by Louise Keller: Impossible relationshipsbut something quite beautiful and sprinkled with innocence.

It is in Joe's Pie Diner, the focal centre of the small town, that all the action takes place. There, we become involved in all Jenna's relationships, including her two close friends - her waitress colleagues. Cheryl Hines' Becky, whose lopsided breasts are 'something Picasso would have made' is having an extra-marital affair and bespectacled, ditzy Dawn (played by writer director Shelly) finds true love with a nerdy 'spontaneous poet' (Eddie Jemison) whom she meets on a five minute date. And there's Cal (Lew Temple), the grumpy manager who admits to being 'happy enough' and demanding Old Joe, who adores Jenna's pies 'Each flavour opens up, one by one - like chapters in a book.'

Everything works - from the flawless performances