Ryan Reynolds, of “Van Wilder” fame, is finally out of college and has apparently started waiting tables in the new comedy “Waiting.”The film centers loosely on the emotional distress of an overly responsible waiter, Dean (Justin Long), as he faces a possible promotion and the recent college graduation of an old high school nemesis.
Critics have been quick to compare this film to the Kevin Smith classic “Clerks,” with its similar theme of intelligent, underachieving 20-somethings working dead-end jobs – poorly. There aren’t long monologues and intellectual musings about the allegorical nature of “Star Wars” in “Waiting,” but the film does say something about the daily issues faced by everyone of college age.
Although other films in this genre let a character whine “nice guys finish last” right before he hooks up with a swimsuit model, this film is true to life. After a hilarious argument, we learn girls want a guy with confidence, even if he isn’t nice at all.
The boisterous and ethically challenged Monty (Reynolds in his type-casted glory) plays off of the reserved, hardworking Long to great effect as the duo attempts to work through their respective problems and work at the same time.
The variety of supporting characters with extensive subplots and problems (i.e. shy bladders, nymphomania and anger management) causes the story to sometimes lose focus, but every tangent is uproarious. There is no middle ground in this film – either you hate it or you love it.
If the idea of creatively exposing genitalia to co-workers isn’t funny to you, then avoid this film. The running gags revolve around sex, bodily functions and difficult customers, and sometimes combine all three.
Those TCU students with less-discriminating senses of humor, however, should flock to the relatively few theaters screening this film.
The underlying sentiment of needing a major change to kickstart a stagnant life will easily strike a chord with many college students. “Waiting” has the potential to drive everyone stuck in dead-end jobs to quit. And at the very least, it is good for a laugh.
-Brian Chatman