Waiting

Reviewed by Rich Drees

     A little over a decade ago, first time indie film director Kevin Smith burst onto the scene with his comedy Clerks. The movie quickly found an audience with twenty-somethings who could relate to its two irresponsible register jockeys playing pranks on each other, discussing life and relationships all the while barely hiding their contempt for their customers. As quickly as the film earned its cult following, it also spawned a spate of imitators attempting to cash in on a generation’s disaffection. And now, ten years later, we get what one hopes is the last gasp of his particular film cycle, Waiting.

     The wait staff of the tacky theme restaurant Shenanigans – think TGI Fridays without the budget for decent wall decorations – are not the best examples of their employer’s friendly, outgoing corporate image. They may smile while taking an order from an abusive customer, but that’s only so they can put them at ease while sliding a knife into their back in the form of food that’s been laced with snot, dandruff or worse. The same generic pack of social misfits to be found in most ensemble workplace comedies, the staff at the restaurant spends its time by marking time, complaining that their job stinks, but without actually doing something to change their lot in life. Instead, they while away their time complaining, backtalking the boss, tampering with annoying customer’s food and playing a game that involves trying to get their co-workers to look at their genitals.

    There’s not much more to relate, story-wise. The script is fairly episodic, with only the barest of through lines being established by the character of Dean (Justin Long), a bright young man who realizes his job is a dead-end but lacks the impetus to make a change. Beyond that there is nothing more than a vague collection of stereotypes- the want to be gangster rappers bus boys, the surly cook, the couple who can’t their hands off of each other while on the clock. Through it all strides Monty (Ryan Reynolds), the Alpha male of the group and self-appointed ringmaster of this particular circus. Though most of the other cast are accorded a decent amount of screen time, Reynolds is the nominal lead in this ensemble. Unfortunately, even though he has managed to raise the mediocre material of some of the past films he’s appeared in, Reynolds can not do so here. There are times when it appears he is trying to channel Chevy Chase’s Zen hedonist character from Caddyshack, but he misses the mark by a wide margin. Instead, Reynolds comes off as swarmy and not very likeable, even before you factor in the character’s avowed desire for underage girls and the fact that he spends a portion of the film planning a rendezvous with the restaurant’s seventeen-year old hostess. David Koechner, whose broad comedic style works well in a film like Anchorman, gives an overstated performance as the restaurant’s manager that belongs in another film. Most of the rest of the cast, especially Anna Faris and Luis Guzman, are adrift, stuck with characters that are at the most one dimensional.

     Still, among the dreck there are a few performances that standout. Justin Long brings a bit of heart to his role of the only waiter in the restaurant actively trying to find some direction in his life while Alanna Ubach practically steals every scene she is in as an obscenity spewing waitress with anger management issues. Unfortunately, these small spices in an overall bland meal aren’t enough to recommend this film.