Let me start by letting you know that I loved this film, but I can't tell you what I like best about this film, because f I did I give the ending away.
Director, Writer and Actress of this classic story, Adrienne Shelly has crafted a tale about a small town girl, Jenna, who is married to Earl. He is a insecure, jealous, controlling man with tendency to violence. Jenna, played wonderfully by Keri Russell, is a waitress-pastry cook at the local pie cafe. Normally we would assume that the answer to her problem would be to leave Earl, but she finds out that she is pregnant. Her workmates, Becky and Dawn, rally around her and we are given the possibility that she might escape Earl long enough to win a pie contest. With the money she would win she could solve her problem.
The second curve ball is when Jenna meets her new Doctor, Dr. Pomatter, portrayed by Nathan Fillion. He is new to town and taking over the practice of her regular physician. Dr. Jim Pomatter is instantly and obviously taken with Jenna.
The one thing that is apparent to us is that Jenna does not want to have this baby. She is given a book for expectant mothers and with the urging of her friend Dawn, she tells her story in a narrative letter to her unborn baby. We learn that she was taught to bake pies by a mother who she loved, she is married a guy who changed for the worst after they got married, the love is gone out their marriage and she has feelings for her Doctor.
The script for this is so tight and the story so compelling that I can't find any fault. Keri Russel is wonderful as the plucky pie maker, who has a pie recipe for every occasion and makes us all wish we could wrap our arms around her and hold her for twenty minutes for no reason except to make her feel safe.
(Sadly, Adrienne Shelly has passed away since this film was completed. I'm sure there was more enjoyable film experience in this woman's future that we've been denied.)
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