Waiting... (2005)

Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.

Director:

Rob McKittrick

Writer:

Rob McKittrick

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, John Francis Daley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Reynolds	...	Monty
Anna Faris	...	Serena
Justin Long	...	Dean
David Koechner	...	Dan
Luis Guzmán	...	Raddimus
Chi McBride	...	Bishop
John Francis Daley	...	Mitch
Kaitlin Doubleday	...	Amy
Rob Benedict	...	Calvin (as Robert Patrick Benedict)
Alanna Ubach	...	Naomi
Vanessa Lengies	...	Natasha
Max Kasch	...	T-Dog
Andy Milonakis	...	Nick
Dane Cook	...	Floyd
Jordan Ladd	...	Danielle

Storyline

It's the dinner shift at Shenanigan's. Dan, the clueless boss, assigns Mitch, 22, a trainee, to Monty, the smooth talker who chases girls for one-night stands. Dean, a waiter, also 22, feels that life is passing him by. Dan offers him the assistant manager job and gives him until midnight to decide. Other waiters, cooks, and bus boys have their issues and personalities. Bishop, the dishwasher, is their counselor. During this shift, Monty may learn something, Dean makes his decision, Dan makes a play for the not-yet-18 hostess, customers get their comeuppance, the guys all play the in-house homophobic flashing game, the gals demonstrate why they won't, and Mitch gets the last word.

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Plot Keywords:

waiter | dishwasher | cook | restaurant | male frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

What happens in the kitchen ends up on the plate.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong crude and sexual humor, pervasive language and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Lions gate Films [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Waiting...

Filming Locations:

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,021,106, 9 October 2005, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$16,124,543

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eden Rock Media, Element Films, L.I.F.T. Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The community college diploma over Dan's desk reads "Daniel Christopher Pratt," very similar to the name of the father of Anna Faris's future husband, Chris Pratt (Daniel Clifton Pratt). This is a coincidence, because Faris did not meet Chris Pratt until 2007.

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Goofs

When Monty says, "It's cherry-poppin' time", Calvin stands up. Then in the next scene he is sitting down again and then stands back up.

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Quotes

Dean: How many times can we have the exact same conversation?
Monty: It's like we're stuck in a fucking time paradox where neither our wisdom nor your virginity will ever escape.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, Andy Milonakis sets his glass down on one of the set pieces which turns out to be a Rube Goldberg machine.

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Alternate Versions

As far as the unrated cut goes, the 'unrated' portions mostly concern the testicles and vagina shots near the end of the movie that had to be changed for the MPAA. For the vagina shot, the camera is slightly closer than it was theatrically. For the testicles shot in the theatrical, they were just hanging out of the boxers; this take is used on Disc Two during 'The Works' at the beginning of the Luis Guzman casting section. Another unrated change is that the rap video during the credits is uncensored, while the theatrical had words bleeped very arbitrarily.

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Connections

References Top Gun (1986)

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Soundtracks

Trojan Horse
Written and Performed by The Rattlesnakes
Peekaboo Perfect Explore (ASCAP)
Arranged with Falling Elevator! Music Group

User Reviews

Disturbing, disgusting, offensive, and better than I expected

When I first saw previews for this movie, I expected a soulless comedy about restaurant staff messing with customers. Although some people may feel that way even after seeing it, I was pleasantly surprised. From the introduction of 'the game' near the beginning of the movie, I knew this was going to be more interesting and even more disturbing than the previews.

Despite what appears to be rather thin characterization, 'Waiting' succeeds at being a good character-driven movie. I am not sure why this is. Perhaps what seem to be just childish antics add depth to the characters without us realizing it. Some people complain that 'the game' is a 10 second gag stretched out for the entire film, and on the surface, this is true. However, the game is really more of a mechanism for developing characters than anything on its own. The result is a set of very flawed, but surprisingly likable characters. Also, the ending, though a little abrupt, is entertaining largely because the movie does a good job of setting up the characters and situation.

This movie is not for everyone. If you do not like 'stupid' humor, then you will probably not be able to overlook that to enjoy the more subtle aspects. However, once you get past that, this movie is more than the sum of its parts.