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In the end, Jenna does find the joy and hope she's looking for—just not where she's expecting. It's interesting to note who she walks off into the sunset with in the final scene. While this is compelling and will ring true for many viewers, I wish we'd been given a bit more transition to this paradigm shift. As is, she finds her life-altering answer in about five seconds flat. Overall, Waitress is a light and airy confection, only a bit too sweet and with a few ingredients missing. 

Talk About It

1. What do you think of Jenna's letters to her baby? If you're a parent, how did you feel as you anticipated your child's arrival? How similar or different would your letters have read?
2. Do you think Dawn makes a wise choice in whom she marries—or is she settling? Why do you feel that way?
3. Jenna finds peace from her disappointing life in the kitchen. Where do you find such peace?
4. What do you think the message is at the end of the movie? What's Jenna's "salvation"? Is this healthy or unhealthy?

The Family Corner

Waitress is rated PG-13 for sexual content, language, and thematic elements. Due to the fact that much of the movie revolves around the pregnant, married main character's affair with her married gynecologist, it's not really a movie for pre-teens. We see bad consequences for married sex and no consequences for extra-marital sex, so it's not really the best movie for "family values," either.

Photos © Copyright Fox Searchlight Pictures

© Camerin Courtney subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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