While You Were Sleeping

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Glyns Johns, Jack Warden

Year: 1995

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I'm sure I've watched it over a hundred times. And even though I can probably recall each line from memory, I never tire of it. I love the storyline. I love the characters. I love the chemistry. I love everything about it!

Lucy (Bullock) is a transit toll-booth worker and although she hates her job, she loves the fact that she gets to see the same gorgeous handsome stranger (Gallagher) pay his token and get on the train every day. She's never met him. Knows nothing about him. But knows she wants to marry him. One day, after paying his toll, the stranger gets mugged, causing him to fall on the tracks and Lucy saves him. Unfortunately, the accident leaves the stranger, Peter Callaghan, in a coma and a misunderstanding leads Peter's family to believe Lucy is his fiancee. It kinda becomes that "be careful what you wish for" scenario. With their warm affection and welcoming embrace, Lucy neglects to tell them the truth. Things get a bit more complicated when Jack (Pullman) shows up. Jack is Peter's younger brother. And although Lucy is "engaged" to Peter, she finds herself falling in love with Jack.

Complicated becomes more complicated. Of course it does! It's a romantic-comedy!! Prior to Peter's accident, Peter proposed to Ashley - unbeknownst to the family. Grandma (Johns) has a heart condition which keeps Lucy from telling the truth. And Lucy is an only child, both parents deceased; living alone with her cat. Being welcomed into this loving family is something she hasn't had for a very long time and she's not sure she wants to give it up.

Favourite Scenes: #1 When Lucy is watching the Callaghan family open Christmas gifts. #2 When Lucy and Jack are slipping and sliding on the ice and trying to keep each other up. # 3 Any scene with Grandma. # 4 When Jack is playing cards with Peter in the hospital. #5 When the paperboy is delivering newspapers. #6 When Jack gives Lucy her wedding gift.

Fun Facts: #1 Julia Roberts was first offered the role of Lucy, but turned it down. #2 Although not really a "fun" fact, the boy throwing the newspaper wasn't supposed to fall, and actually broke his wrist while doing the scene. But they kept the scene. 😯#3 The Callaghan's house is real. Every house scene was filmed inside the charming home, which is in La Grange, Illinois. #4 John Travolta's sister plays the nurse who admits Peter into the hospital. #5 John Cusack's father plays Dr. Rubin.

Although this movie takes place at Christmas, don't save it for just Christmas watching. It works any time of year. And if you are as hopelessly romantic as Lucy is, then this movie works any hour, of any day of any month. While You Were Sleeping is romantic, funny, touching with a big dose of charm. No matter how many times I've seen this movie, I fall in love with it all over again. You will too.

Favourite Lines:

*Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven't even talked to?

*Have you ever been so alone you spend the night confusing a man in a coma?

*I could sleep anywhere. And believe me, she has.

*I don't drink any more. I don't drink any less either.

*I was always proud of you. Never envious. Until now.

*You give up your seat every day in the train. Well, that's not heroic. It is to the person who sits in it.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.