While You Were Sleeping

"While You Were Sleeping" is a delightful romantic comedy that warms the heart and leaves a smile on your face. Directed by Jon Turteltaub and released in 1995, this timeless gem takes audiences on a whimsical journey of love, fate, and unexpected connections. With a charming cast, witty dialogue, and a healthy dose of feel-good moments, "While You Were Sleeping" remains a beloved classic in the genre even after all these years.

The film revolves around Lucy Moderatz (Sandra Bullock), a lonely and kind-hearted ticket collector in a Chicago subway station. Lucy secretly harbors a crush on a handsome commuter named Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher), who she frequently sees during her shifts. One fateful day, Lucy saves Peter from an oncoming train accident, but he falls into a coma as a result.

In a twist of fate, Lucy is mistaken as Peter's fiancée when she accompanies him to the hospital. As Peter's family, including his charming brother Jack (Bill Pullman), embraces Lucy, she finds herself caught in an intricate web of lies. The situation becomes even more complicated when Lucy starts to develop feelings for Jack, creating a delightful and heartwarming romantic entanglement.

Review: "While You Were Sleeping" is an endearing and enchanting romantic comedy that strikes the perfect balance between humor, charm, and genuine emotion. The film's strength lies in its engaging and relatable characters, who effortlessly draw the audience into their world. Sandra Bullock shines in her role as Lucy, capturing the character's vulnerability, wit, and innate goodness. Her performance is both lovable and relatable, making Lucy someone viewers can't help but root for.

The chemistry between Bullock and Bill Pullman, who plays Jack, is undeniable and adds an extra layer of magic to the film. Pullman brings a wonderful blend of warmth, sincerity, and subtle humor to his character, making Jack an ideal romantic counterpart for Lucy. Their interactions are filled with delightful banter and subtle moments of connection, creating a palpable and captivating on-screen romance.

The supporting cast, including Peter Gallagher as the comatose Peter and a scene-stealing performance by Jack Warden as Lucy's endearing neighbor, further elevate the film. Each character brings their own unique quirks and charm, adding depth and humor to the narrative. The ensemble cast works seamlessly together, creating a vibrant and cohesive on-screen dynamic.

The screenplay by Daniel G. Sullivan and Fredric Lebow strikes the perfect balance between lighthearted comedy and heartfelt moments. The witty and clever dialogue, combined with the film's whimsical premise, keeps the audience engaged and entertained throughout. Turteltaub's direction ensures a smooth flow of the story, allowing the film to unfold at a comfortable pace while maintaining its captivating charm.

The film's setting in Chicago provides a picturesque backdrop for the story, with its snow-covered streets and cozy urban atmosphere. The cinematography beautifully captures the city's magic, adding a touch of enchantment to the overall cinematic experience. The accompanying soundtrack, featuring a mix of romantic melodies and upbeat tunes, enhances the film's emotional beats and further immerses viewers in its world.

Ultimately, "While You Were Sleeping" is a heartwarming and feel-good romantic comedy that stands the test of time. Its endearing.

Rom-coms are not my bag; 99% are utter crap. 'While You Were Sleeping' is one of, maybe, three I've ever re-watched. It's criminally low-rated here.

8 great things about While You Were Sleeping:

1. If you watch it again, and pay attention, you'll pick up something new. Like the whomping thud of a fall by the ice skater at the end of the Chicago winter montage opening credits.

On (at least) my fourth watch, I finally realized *why* Lucy has such a thing for Peter. It's not because he's handsome, or his clothes scream money: It's crush at first sight because he looks like her father, down to the bushy black eyebrows.

2. The soundtrack is sneaky-good, full of bluesy/old school R&B. Natalie Cole, Koko Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials. Yes, it closes with a cheesy duet-but it's Daryl Hall and Dusty Springfield herself. Sign me up!

3. There are scads of memorable lines and one-liners. Everyone who enjoys this movie has a favorite. I'm partial to Jack and Peter's 'you suck' exchange in the hospital chapel.

4. Remember when lots of movies had real-looking people with real-looking houses, before the days when even a NYC teacher has to be drop-dead gorgeous with a $2mil loft? Only the rich lawyer in WYWS has a rich pad, and that's cool.

5. The leading lady has no vanity. She never wears spike heels or shows cleavage. Lucy (Sandra Bullock) dresses like lots of women you know: jeans and baggy sweaters, boots for icy sidewalks. As Peter tells his out-going girlfriend, "Lucy is *not* a bimbo."

Her hair is a mess nine scenes out of ten, and Bullock is so warm and genuine you love her for it.

She's also not taking the world by storm. Lucy is funny, adorable, sentimental...and the hot dog vendor she sees every day never remembers her.

6. Jack (Bill Pullman) is a woodworker! Let's just say I've known loads of craftsmen and lawyers in my professional life...and one creates things from nothing while the other largely takes things apart.

Most rom-coms have 'insert hot guy here' interchangeable casting, but Pullman is perfect here: self-effacing, funny, a little scruffy, with just the right amount of gravel in his voice. He's charming, a bit snarky-and he single-handedly redeems the film's cheesiest scene by facing the camera with sudden tears in his eyes.

7. You can relate to the Callaghans. If you've ever been shushed in church. If non-sequiturs and talking-over fly at the dinner table. Argentinian beef and nazis, tall actors and mashed potatoes. If there's at least one rogue grandparent or mensch friend and nobody's perfect but everyone laughs a lot. You don't have to actually be Irish. Though it helps.

8. The supporting cast is pretty flawless all-around. Even the trope roles are lively. Jack Warden, Glynis Johns, Peter Boyle, Ally Walker and Peter Gallagher as a largely comatose, narcissistic, wide-eyed doofus of a one-balled squirrel-saver.

In the end, WYWS is more funny than trite, a low-gloss, feel-good film with a saving grace of quirk.

This was the picture which proved things could be all about Sandra Bullock. "Speed" - one year earlier - showed this. This picture proved it. A lot of people nowadays make fun of a typical Bullock picture and speak of her as negligible in this day and age. They probably forget or were never aware that she was hailed as America's new sweetheart back in '95 and it was no idle chatter. There are very few actresses who can carry a picture on their own slight shoulders - I mean, really make it a success. Sure, Bill Pullman helped, but this really was Sandra all the way, in a sappy, soapy, cliché-ridden slight story of sudden romance usually very hard to buy into. But because Sandra is there on the screen throughout nearly every frame, it all works out, and you're rooting for her happiness in the final few minutes even knowing very well what is about to happen. It's like you've seen it all before, but Sandra makes you want to see it again. We are all very fortunate, those of us who have seen this story, that it was Sandra in the central role and not someone like (shudder) Demi Moore. And if a guy is really fortunate, he may meet someone like Sandra in real life.

This is one of those movies where she waits for me to get emotional. But I had steel resolve, holding back any tears or emotion. Sandy Bullock, you won't break me. You won't.

No matter how many times I watch this movie, I can't get enough of it! Whenever I've had a bad day or am not in a good mood... all I have to do is watch this fabulous, amazing movie! Makes you believe in fate and following your dreams... If you never watch another movie in your life, watch this one! You won't regret it.