The Waiting Room is a documentary from Peter Nicks. It explores the American health care system and all the issues that go with it. While this is potentially an interesting subject to explore..the film, as with Beware of Mr. Baker does not do justice for its subject. The film is very slow and boring and makes the audience wonder why this couldn't have been explored by a more experienced filmmaker.
The stories, including a man with a testicular tumor and a little girl with a supposed infection in her mouth take a while to get off the ground and when they do-they're not interesting at all. I have always said this but the ultimate test of a good documentary to me is whether or not the filmmaker can lure me into their subject whether I am familiar with it or not. Here..Nicks lays it on thick thereby not making it interesting.
The main problem with the film is that the characters aren't all that interesting or likable. I suppose I did like the parents of the girl and a couple of the nurses but they're not explored enough to get any sort of momentum going. Also, the film bounces between the characters so much that even with an eighty minute running time...it becomes very, very tiring.
Also, the ending is flat. I won't say what happens or what the intention was, but the final line which is supposed to sum up both the intentions and ideas of the film feels dull and unnecessary.
I liked the intentions of The Waiting Room significantly more than the execution. While the film does have some fascinating scenes..they are too few and far between. Not that this is a bad film..just one I can't recommend
(2 out of 5 Stars, The film is not rated but is equivalent to that of a PG-13 for adult themes and brief strong language).
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