WAITRESS: THE MUSICAL
(director/writer: Brett Sullivan, Diane Paulus; screenwriters: Jessie Nelson, Adrienne Shelley; cinematographer: ; editors: Marko Kesar, David Tregoning; music: Sara Bareilles; cast: Joe Tippett (Earl), Sara Bareilles (Jenna Hunterson), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Caitlan Houlahan (Dawn), Charity Angel Dawson (Becky), Christofer Fitzgerald (Ogie), Eric Anderson (Cal, short-order cook), Dakin Matthews (Joe, diner owner), Anastacia McCleskey (Nurse Norma), Molly Jobe (Mother); Runtime: 144; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Paul Morphos, Sara Bareilles, Micchael Rolff, Barry Weissler, Fran Weissler, Jessie Nelson; HBO Max, Bleecker Street Media; 2023)
“The singing and acting by Sara Bareilles is one of a Broadway star.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Brett Sullivan (“Frozen: The Broadway Musical”/The Prince of Egypt: The Musical) directs the film part and Diane Paulus (“Century Goddess”/”Great Performances”) directs the stage part of this feel-good musical indie (filmed at the Broadway stage during a live performance). It’s based on the story by the late Adrienne Shelley (a murder victim, that happened before the film opened and thereby the film was dedicated to her) and is based on Shelley’s same named 2007 movie, that’s based on the 2021 Broadway show. The musical/dramedy is about an unhappy country diner waitress looking for a life break by winning a pie baking contest in a nearby town, thereby receiving liberation from her abusive husband and gaining female empowerment.
Jenna Hunterson (Sara Bareilles, stars, sings and wrote the music for the show), is a pie baking whiz and waitress from a dusty unnamed small-town somewhere in red state America, working at Joe’s diner. She’s pregnant and in a loveless marriage with the abusive mechanic Earl (Joe Tippett). Her only hope she thinks is to win a pie baking contest sponsored by a nearby county, using the unusual recipes she learned from her deceased mom to win the prize money and then leave Earl to raise the baby on her own.
The place is owned by the old man Joe (Dakin Matthews), one of Jenna’s fussy regular customers.
While pregnant, Jenna has an awkward affair with her nimble and handsome gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling) — a nice guy married man who just came from Connecticut.
There’s a subplot involving the relationships between Jenna’s two friendly co-workers-the cheeky Becky (Caitlin Houlahan) and the timid Dawn (Charity Angel Dawson). Dawn lands a man on a blind date–the effusive tax auditor, the poetical Ogie (Christopher Fitzgerald). Becky has a surprising fling with the work boss, the bossy short-order cook Cal (Eric Anderson).
How Jenna pursues her dream to be recognized as a great baker by winning a contest is the sugar that feeds the inspirational pic.
The film is tasty because the singing and acting by Sara Bareilles is one of a Broadway star, and the supporting cast is terrific. Also, the uplifting story is viewer friendly.
REVIEWED ON 9/2/2026 GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com