Waiting is a 2005 American independent comedy film that takes place in a chain restaurant called Shenaniganz, where a group of underpaid waiters, busboys, and cooks spend their time avoiding work and playing pranks on customers and each other. The movie was directed by Rob McKittrick and features a star-studded cast, including Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and John Francis Daley.
The plot revolves around the character of Monty (Ryan Reynolds), who is a waiter at Shenaniganz and has been working there for four years. Monty is seen as the ringleader of a group of friends, including Naomi (Alanna Ubach), Dean (Justin Long), and T-Dog (Travis Resor), who are all fed up with their low-paying, dead-end jobs. Throughout the film, they all try to find ways to pass the time, with some of their pranks being more successful than others.
The other main character in the movie is Mitch (John Francis Daley), a new employee who is hired as a trainee waiter. Mitch is ambitious and desperately wants to impress his colleagues, especially Monty. However, he soon discovers that working in a restaurant is not as glamorous as he thought it would be. While dealing with demanding customers, bizarre co-workers and a lack of respect from his senior colleagues, Mitch starts to question his future in the industry.
As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that the different characters have their unique personalities and quirks that make them stand out. For instance, there is Floyd (David Koechner), a self-proclaimed ladies man, who follows his catfishing ways relentlessly. Another character, Nick (Andy Milonakis), is a young busboy who is constantly on the receiving end of pranks but learns to stand up for himself in his own way.
The movie provides an insight into the daily workings of a restaurant and the challenges that come with the job. The staff at Shenaniganz are shown to deal with demanding customers and demanding bosses, but also with each other, who are the main source of their daily frustrations. Still, the movie never takes itself too seriously, and there are plenty of laughs to be had throughout.
Overall, Waiting is an entertaining movie that offers viewers a chance to see a side of the restaurant industry that is often overlooked. The cast is fantastic, and the chemistry between the characters is what makes the movie stand out. While there are plenty of crude jokes and gross-out gags in the movie, the humor never feels forced, making it a genuinely enjoyable comedy that can be enjoyed by all.
Waiting is a 2005 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 30.