Waitress

Don't be fooled. This is not a romantic comedy. It is however, a dark drama with several truly funny moments.

Keri Russell plays a pie-making genius who also happens to be a very unhappy waitress. Her unwanted pregnancy occupies most of her thoughts. The rest of her thoughts go into getting away from her insanely controlling and abusive husband, played coldly by Jeremy Sisto, and inventing pies. The pie parts are funny. The husband parts are sickening.

The bright spots in the main character's life are her OB doctor, her co-workers, and one customer in particular. Nathan Fillion does a fun job of playing the doctor. The co-workers are wonderfully done by Cheryl Hines and writer/director Adrienne Shelly who was murdered prior to the release of the movie.

Andy Griffith plays the brightest star in this tale however. Not only is his character pivotal, it is also the most heart-warming.

This is most of all a movie about starting fresh. The pies are symbolic. The diner is symbolic. There are many life-lessons to take from this story if you can get back it's weaknesses.

Watch this movie with someone who needs to get out of a bad situation but does not really know how.

Bedtime Stories

I don't expect anyone over the age of 12 to like this movie much. It is clearly a movie for kids. But it should be fun for the 6 to 12 year-olds in the family. Watch it with them, make sure the get more than the funny bits.

Adam Sandler plays his usual loser-makes-good character with the usual aplomb. If you are paying attention you will see one-liners delivered by bit players from previous Sandler movies. And in one very obvious case, a one-liner is delivered by the same actor who did the line many movies ago.

Keri Russell and Courteney Cox make worthy appearances but won't win any acclaim for their work here. Nor will any of the other cast.

The story is pure Disney formula and it works one one level. Sandler does his best to keep the story moving, and no scenes are overly long or over done.

Watch this movie with the little ones in the family. They'll thank you for it.

August Rush

Bring your tissues. Bring extra hankies. Bring a towel. If this movie does not make you at least a little teary then I will hang up my keyboard and turn in my remote.

This is first and foremost a fairy tale. Don't be guiled into thinking its a slice-of-life piece, or based on something vaguely similar to a true story. It's a fantasy. No doubt its a very good one. Screen-writer Nick Castle does some great stuff (see Hook).

This story is borderline inspirational and some of the deeper, most meaningful points are placed like familiar themes in the overture of a great work. For example, and perhaps the best one at that: Music is God's little reminder that there is something else besides us in the universe - a harmonic connection between all living things - every where - even the stars. I think "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" made the same point, but I digress.

The sound track is diverse and very satisfying. Add it to your collection.

Freddie Highmore plays the son of two musicians who don't know he is even alive. He grows up in an orphanage and dreams of learning to play music so he can call out to his parents. Highmore has played some very beefy roles for his age. Pray he does not turn into Macaulay Culkin.

His parents are played by Keri Russell, who is still a face in search of talent as far as I'm concerned, and Jonathan Rhyse Meyers who has both Elvis and King Henry VIII under his young belt. They are the story, but far from making the show.

Robin Williams steals the show. Completely. His Bono-esque character is so real and so spot-on-perfect you forget it's Mork. I love this character as I have loved every "bad guy" Williams plays.

Be prepared to suspend belief for just a little while, and watch this movie with someone whom you are not embarassed to shed tears with.