Chick Flicks

Based on a friend's recommendation, I decided to rent Waitress this weekend. For those of you who haven't seen it, Waitress is Adrienne Shelly's last film. (She was murdered in her New York apartment shortly after finishing the movie.) Waitress revolves around a pregnant, pie-making waitress (Keri Russell) trapped in a bad marriage. When she meets the new doctor in town (played by Nathan Fillion, my new future husband), things start to look up. I'll try not to give too much away, but if you're especially concerned about spoilers, I might not read any further.

For some strange reason that probably involves me not paying attention or some level of denial, I thought that Waitress was a happy movie. I might even have considered it a romantic comedy. Now, it is a lovely movie with wonderful performances, but I would not describe it as "happy."

At the movie's conclusion, I cried -- or sobbed, depending on your perspective -- and continued to cry for about 20 minutes after the credits finished rolling. sure this wasn't quite as bad as The Way we Were incident of 2001 (in which my former boss asked me two days later if I was going to be OK) or The Ring debacle of 2002 (in which I didn't sleep for four days out of sheer terror), but it wasn't good.

Am I a little too sensitive when it comes to movies? Obviously. But when they get to me, they get to me. And Waitress certainly touched a nerve.

In the last six months, I have helped launch a magazine, negotiated a car purchase, bought a house and learned to replace screening. Of course, I've had help from those around me and some good advice, but I've done a lot of it on my own. I don't worry about being independent, and I have faith in my ability to take care of myself. What I need faith in right now is romantic relationships. I'd like to know that true partnerships exist and that it is possible to be happy with oneself and with someone else.

And again, I'm trying not to give too much away, but let's just say that the movie didn't help me with that.