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For Anyone Who's Ever Worked in a Restaurant

posted 3 years ago by spacecomedy (1962)
14 replies | jump to latest

This one is a great example of the barely controlled chaos that happens behind the scenes at most restaurants. Staff drama, customer drama, and everything in between. Regina Hall as Lisa is the ideal mama bear who manages to hold everything together. Hall absolutely shines as the kind of woman who gets up everyday and works hard without complaint.

Excellent performances as well by Haley Lu Richardson as the always sweet and cheerful Maci and James Le Gros as the frustrated owner Cubby. The one weak link was Shayna McHayle as Danyelle whose perpetually-annoyed voice and eyerolls seem better suited to a Housewives of Wherever episode than a place like Double Whammies.

Grateful for filmmakers like Andrew Bujalski who always creates interesting films no matter the storyline or genre.

Food in Films: Three cheers for the curmudgeonly customer who sees through Danyelle's forced cozying up and says, "You can shake that thing someplace else, I'm just here for the burger and the fight."

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5972) 2 years ago

Was the Danyelle actor a woman or a guy?

There were several points in this movie where it was kind of unclear why certain things were happening, what the character motivations were. Seemed like a case of unclear storytelling.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 2 years ago

She's a woman. Apparently, she's primarily a rapper (haven't heard any of her music). Her acting range seems to span from looking mildly annoyed to very annoyed. The rest of the cast was excellent, but she was totally miscast.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5972) 2 years ago

Hey, thanks. I suppose she had written up a character backstory on her own that she was trying to bring forth, probably because she may not think that working at a Hooters type place is a valid thing to do.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 2 years ago

Since her character was a single mom, I could definitely understand showing a certain amount of stress but she acted like she was annoyed with the whole world. In the real world, I doubt her character would've lasted a week or her tips would've been so low that she would've quit. The best job for her would've been at the DMV. Nothing but sunshine in that place!

[–] HarlemEagle42 (16200) 2 years ago

Didn't really hear anything about this one.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 2 years ago

Worth a watch if you like Bujalski's films. I've been a fan since "Funny Ha Ha."

[–] Noufa (379) 2 years ago

Never worked in food service or dined at Hooters. Hall's character still felt more familiar than anything I've seen from Hollywood in the past decade. Not as many satisfying LOL moments as Office Space but more humane.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 2 years ago

I worked as waiter all through college to help pay the bills. It definitely gives one an appreciation for how stressful the food service industry can be. Also makes one a better tipper. I've known a few Hooters servers. They can pull in some very impressive tip totals. Way more than I ever saw.

Hall is a wonderfully natural actress. I've been a fan since I first saw her in Jerry Maguire.

[–] Ldlamb (589) 4 months ago

Regina Hall and Regina King….not the same.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 4 months ago

Good callout. I've been a fan since of Hall's since Scary Movie. King is a favorite, too.

[–] Ldlamb (589) 4 months ago

King WAS good in JM, though.

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 4 months ago

Agreed. When she starts smacking Tee Pee in the head, that looked totally real. You could FEEL it.

[–] BourbonKing (5635) 2 years ago

So it's like Alice's Restaurant meets Coyote Ugly. I might check it out

[–] spacecomedy (1962) 2 years ago

Yep, that's a pretty spot on description. Sounds like one of those writers in The Player pitching a story. :)