Released: 10/7/05

Viewed: 7:40pm 10/7/05

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justin Long, Anna Faris, David Koechner, Luis Guzman, Chi Mcbride

Directed by: Rob McKittrick

At one point in our lives most of us have worked in the service industry. Waiting tables, packing groceries, running registers, collecting tolls? Most of us have dealt directly with the customer. If you've done that and hated it, then you can certainly appreciate a movie like Waiting? it's brilliant in it's overall appeal. Combine that appeal with slackers that look like heroes, real world problems, work place antics that are as insane as they are unsanitary, and the "show me your penis" game, and you're left with a disturbingly pleasing movie.

First and foremost it's funny as hell. You've seen the commercials, they give away a lot there, but it all plays out very well on screen. Working as a waiter/waitress is a very specific situation so you get some jokes centered strictly around it. A few are very obvious, and I thought to myself "Some guys been waiting a long time to tell that joke." But by merely collecting this group of people together in one place you're sure to up the funny a little. I dare you not to laugh when Dane Cook says, "Welcome to Thunderdome, bitch."

But the jokes that are developed throughout the movie have a better overall impact. The biggest and most shocking example is the penis game mentioned above. I won't explain the game because I couldn't give it the same justice the movie does. They take about 20 minutes on and off to explain the ins and outs of this game and every second of it is a see saw ride between "I can't believe what I'm hearing" and "You can't do that on Television!" I mean, "That's the funniest thing I've ever heard." Luis Guzman deserves some sort of perverted Oscar for his explanation of "The Bat Wing". The rest of the cast is equally entertaining. I'm a huge Ryan Reynolds fan. Honestly if his part was being played by Josh Hartnett I might not have bothered to even see it. Oh, who am I kidding, I could never resist Hartnett. And you've got to love Justin Long. It's his story that gets the most attention. He plays the part of the regretful youth that is fearful of his destiny being stuck in a dead end job. That's the thing, if you're a loser with no real prospects or future, this movie will make you realize it over and over and over again

Other disturbing revelations this movie brings up include ? I didn't party enough in college. Why don't all my coworkers get drunk and do each other everyday after work? If Chi McBride can drink out of a glass that big then why can't I!? And finally, the desperate search to find as many reasons as you can to justify that sleeping with a hot 17 year old is ok. Natasha is WAY to hot.

It is funny but this movie has a major quality issue. The writing and acting are fine but the overall editing feels amateur and sloppy. It's jam packed with unnecessary jump cuts, and one speed up of what looked to be a really great steady cam shot. My guess is that it was to expensive to film to not keep it in the movie, but to lengthy to run at normal speed.

The most glaring problem is background noise. About 15 minutes in I realized that the movie had no soundtrack. Nothing at all. The only thing you heard was the dialogue and any set noise like clinking glasses or opening doors or whatever. It may not sound like a big deal but it was very unnatural. It made the theater seem very quiet. I had a hell of a time silently opening the Skittles I had snuck in. There are moments in the movie where music is used, mostly during montages or party scenes. But the rest of the movie could have benefited from a more substantial use of background noise.

I do have to recommend this movie though. If you're looking to laugh out loud and you can handle really REALLY dirty stuff then go see it for sure.

6 out of 10 An above average comedy that loses most of it's points for film quality. So much is working well in this movie that I have to recommend it, but it just goes to show you that little choices can effect the overall product in a big way. .

DVD worthy?: Definitely maybe. I would want some good extras at a reasonable price. It's a very casual movie that you can just throw on, but I'm still discouraged by the overall quality.

If you liked this movie check out: Office Space

Office Space rules. I'm sure 90% of the people reading this Love the movie own the movie or intend to own the movie when a better version of the DVD eventually comes out. Office Space and Waiting have the same spirit of this sort of ? bare minimum to complete the work, I hat my job but what can you do ? attitude. All the while handling it hysterically. Office space admittedly is better made, with a better concept and ideas and jokes that will stay with you longer. Except maybe the "show me you penis game." That was just nuts. HA! "Nuts."

Trailer Hitch: The Ringer

Johnny Knoxville stars as a man faking retardation to compete in and rig the Special Olympics. Somebody's rolling over in there grave. Probably a couple of dozen people. But going by the laughs this trailer got in the theater this movie is going to do pretty well. Maybe people will speak up and complain a little closer to its release date. People don't boycott movies like they used to. It's gotten to the point where Jodi Foster has to call you a terrorist before people have the balls to speak up.

But this sort of movie is my bread and butter, so there's no way I'm going to miss it, as weird as it looks. There a dance sequence in the trailer that got the biggest laugh of all. A DANCE sequence. Dance sequences are not cool. Remember the cool dance sequence from The Replacements? Oh you don't? Well there you go. Even still, a bunch of people just googled "The Replacements".

Ok if I see the trailer for The Fog one more time, I'm going to punch someone in the armpit. The first time I saw it ? kinda scary. By the 9th time I had become completely desensitized to the entire thing. Why won't it come out and die so I can see new trailers. I've never spoken about the trailer here, but the movie looks like garbage. The trailer itself has 2 redeeming qualities. Selma Blair gets hit by a car coming out of the fog and that does look pretty nice. And then there's Summer (from LOST) walking around in her underwear. I'm sure it'll draw in a lot of the audience. But I'm willing to be they'll be disappointed. Not with the underwear, that's top notch.

Vote today and see how difficult making certain choices can be after seeing this movie.