Diner is sort of an anti-American Graffiti. Like that film, it's an episodic comedy set in the 1950s. Unlike that film, nothing is glorified. Reality is harsh. At the same time, it doesn't particularly feel any more or less authentic.

In terms of its entertainment value, Diner is a mixed bag. The film is uneven, but most of it is good, particularly the frequent moments of understated humor. The script has moments of brilliance, but the film's most crippling flaw is that it lacks heart. For that reason, American Graffiti is by far the better of the two.