MovieChat Forums > Waitress (2007) Discussion > Did anyone feel a little sorry for Earl ...

Did anyone feel a little sorry for Earl at the end?

posted 15 years ago by Emunah
49 replies | jump to latest

Okay, he was a jackass, we know that. But the fact remains, he was the father of the baby. How can jenna just take the baby, and say "don't ever touch me, don't ever come near me, blah blah blah" and then have him thrown out of the room when his daughter was born just moments earlier?

Even though he wanted a boy, and he's a jerk, and told her not to love the baby more than him which is insane, the point is, he should still have some kind of presence in the baby's life. And the way it ended, was so fairy tale like... like jenna and the baby will just live together forever in a wonderful little life with no interference from anybody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFtYpLV4EPo

[–] markfilipak 14 years ago

Not me.

[–] Enekobus 14 years ago

Maybe just a little, but only because he was a pathetic excuse of a human being. Besides, it's not explained if he had some sort of custody, I'm sure she would let him see the child on weekends or something.

It's just refreshing to see a girl decide she doesn't need a man in her life. Period. That made the movie amazing.

My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!

[–] owenrcarpenter 14 years ago

In the 'fairytale' context of the movie, I think that was appropriate that Earl just vanished in a metaphorical puff of smoke. He was the Demon King or Bad Dwarf who just evaporates from the story as soon as he is bested. Earl had served his dramatic function and now was gone.

In 'real world' terms, I don't think that Earl would have had anything to do with Jenna or Lulu once the relationship had imploded. As I recall, he was was not dragged from Jenna's bedside shouting 'Give me my daughter!' but rather 'I never want to see you or your brat again!'. Once Jenna was free of him, he didn't want to know.

The only 'custody' that Earl was intersted in was the custody of a jailer over his prisoners.

[–] littleteakettle 13 years ago

Do I feel sorry for Earl? No way. He got what he deserved. Just because he fathered the child - and the child didn't seem to me to be all that deliberate - doesn't mean he needs to play a role in the child's life. Calling him a jerk is putting it nicely- he would eff up that child's life pretty bad. Child is better off without him, bottom line.

[–] CatelynTullyDidNothingWrong 12 years ago

Yeah. I also felt bad that he's obviously emotionally a child.

Maybe later on she at least lets him have Lulu weekends.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2qi2reh.jpg

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sandifay62 12 years ago

I never felt sorry for him. Never valued his wife or his baby. Even after the baby's birth he wanted to confirm the promise he forced her to make emotionally to never love the child more than she loved him. If she stayed with him, imagine the many different ways he would come up with to "test her word." He's dangerous for her and her baby and Jenna seize the moment it was safest to break free.

Earl probably isn't the type of father to bother her for custody. He's the type that would immediately find a new woman he can control, train, and abuse.

[–] chicago85 9 years ago

Why waste your life on a POS like him. A turkey baster could have done his job. She owes him nothing. He will go and find another victim.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 9 years ago

Okay, he was a jackass, we know that. But the fact remains, he was the father of the baby. How can jenna just take the baby, and say "don't ever touch me, don't ever come near me, blah blah blah" and then have him thrown out of the room when his daughter was born just moments earlier?

Even though he wanted a boy, and he's a jerk, and told her not to love the baby more than him which is insane, the point is, he should still have some kind of presence in the baby's life. And the way it ended, was so fairy tale like... like jenna and the baby will just live together forever in a wonderful little life with no interference from anybody.

Never, not even once, did I feel sorry for Earl. He was controlling, abusive, and, with regard to fatherhood, only cared that Jenna didn't love the baby more. She didn't want to take any chances -- Lulu instantly became not only the love of her life, but the number-one priority -- so she cut him loose, immediately and permanently. It's one of my favorite moments of the film.