A Soild Ensemble Cast Carries A Funny Movie
Added 2/7/2010
Synopsis: The film centers around a day in the life of the waitstaff of Shenaniganz, a fun All-American restaurant similar in theme to a TGI Fridays/Applebees style restaurant. Everyone has a tale to tell. You have the hopeful Dean (played by Justin Long), who is being harassed by his manager Dan (David Koechner) to accept a promotion despite weighing his options to continue a career in food service; all while maintaining his relationship with Amy (Kaitlin Doubleday). There's also the sarcastic Monty (Ryan Reynolds), who does what he can to maintain his edge as the "cool, cocky" worker at the restaurant. The wise dishwasher Bishop (Chi McBride) does what he can to offer advice that would be counter-intuitive to the antics that Raddimus (Luis Guzman) and Floyd (Dane Cook) cook up in an effort to sabotage the restaurant's customers (and their food.) Serena (Anna Faris) does what she can to hold down the fort while the alcoholic Naomi (Alanna Ubach) and the neurotic Calvin (Robert Patrick Benedict) have their issues become the problems of everyone else. Will the gang get through their day unscathed? Will Dean make the decision to stay as a manager or will he move on with life?
I had to see the movie a few times to be a fan, but push comes to shove this wasn't that bad of a movie at all. There were a bunch of comedians who were very much able to make the movie funny and a great supporting cast to help carry the story from point A to point B. It's not the most high-brow movie in existence, but it's still a decent time and worth watching.
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The Cardinal Rule: Don't F*** with people that handle your food.
Added 11/28/2009
Few movies drive home a point as sharply as this one does. Yep, I will never, ever be mean or angry with a waiter or food preparer again.
"Waiting" is definitely one of those F*** Bomb a minute, gross out sexual humor sort of movies. But what makes it stand out from the majority of these usually brainless and nearly unwatchable movies is the sharply written script by first time writer/director Rob McKittrick. McKittrick knows his subject, as he was writing from personal experience. The characters are well fleshed out and recognizable, and the dialogue is quite funny and intelligent. The ensemble cast - Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and Justin Long among them - do a great job.
As others have already mentioned, "Waiting" is like "Office Space", in that it is a movie focused on one peculiar micro-culture of our modern society. Instead of Cubical-ville, the characters live in the world of those familiar chain restaurants with the ersatz instant "history" and "character" stuck to the walls, where the waiters gather at your table to sing "Happy Birthday". Think T.G.I.F. or Bubba Gump, more upscale than Denny's or Carrow's, less upscale than Macaroni Grill (the local one here has someone, usually the head waiter or a cute girl, sing "Happy Birthday" in Italian, as an aria).
And, I now appreciate so much more the budget steakhouses like Ponderosa/Bonanza that show you the cooks grilling the steaks right in front of the customers. Great idea, all restaurants should do that...
Yes, this movie is what happens after the "coming of age" movie, when the kids leave the comforts of home to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. Have you noticed how the people in these sorts of jobs are usually young, usually turn over constantly? It's a way station in life, the entry point into the cold, hard, realities of our fiercely competitive society.
Be kind to them all, while they figure it out...
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Waiting on DVD
Added 10/16/2009
Excellent quality product. Got it in a timely manner. FUNNY movie too, if you haven't seen it.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Item arrived promptly and in the condition as described.
Added 9/4/2009
The item arrived promptly after I ordered it and it arrived in the condition in which it was described.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A well-done review, small portion, made to order
Added 7/24/2009
For what it is, Waiting is a perfect movie. It's outlandish comedy. Are there obnoxious people in it? Of course, but there are obnoxious people in real life, and it feels good to laugh at them once in a while and maybe see a little of yourself in an obnoxious character. Could it be more clever? Of course, but in a movie like this, too much cleverness would be too clever by half. For those who would want or expect more cleverness, have you never acted ridiculously silly and thoroughly enjoyed yourself? How would it be if, after your silly jag, some nitwit says, in all seriousness, that you could have been more clever? Neither is this film "formulaic." The story is structured around employees at a restaurant, so yes, it dishes out jokes you would expect. But then, a concert pianist is formulaic for performing the standard repertoire.
Like any good "teen angst" movie, this one has something to say to "grown-ups" and parents as well. It's just that everything is exaggerated to the point of absurdity, which makes it "safer," perhaps, for us to think about the underlying messages. Oh yes, there are messages in this story, even if it doesn't take itself too seriously. I recommend this movie, as well as American Pie, which happens to be my favorite teen angst movie.
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