Lucy Moderatz has seemed to live an uneventful life up to this point, and has made her living running a booth on the Chicago elevated train system. She is basically the person who accepts tokens from users of the trains, who simply toss a coin into her window slot on their way out to the tracks. The story at the center of this film develops out of the crush she has on one of her daily passengers. He comes in at about the same time everyday, and she has grown very attracted to his looks, demeanor, and the way he carries himself while getting on the train. This includes the manners he shows in holding the doors for other people, and for a long time she nurtures this crush to herself silently. Peter is his name, and Lucy is just a by-stander, until one day she is forced to take action when he falls on the tracks and she rushes out to save his life.

She goes with him to the hospital to make sure that he is all right, but because only family is allowed to visit, a helpful nurse calls her Peter's fiancé so that she can get into the room. Due to this, a misunderstanding develops when the rest of Peter's family comes calling, and all of them fall under the assumption that Lucy really is his fiancé that they just haven't met. Now Lucy is basically a part of the family, and while Peter is in his coma, digs herself deeper into the false presentation that she is indeed engaged to Peter. She is however, presented in a very positive nature from the very start, and we the viewers don't mind that she is perpetuating the false statement, merely because we grow to like her so much. Even when she tries to tell the truth, things come up that force her to stay silent, and soon she fears that she would hurt people if she did tell them.

As with most romantic comedies, there are twists and turns in the story to keep the plot moving, such as an attraction that appears between Peter's brother and Lucy. While Peter is unconscious for so long, it is the brother that Lucy is able to talk with in person, and they end up doing many things together. This is where the movie really shines, with Sandra Bullock (Lucy) and Bill Pullman (Jack the brother) really hitting it off. Their on-screen chemistry also works extremely well, as his feelings turn from suspicion of Lucy to an admiration of everything that she embodies. It is because of the two leads, and especially the way that Bullock portrays her character that all of the smaller sub-plots are able to work in the film. She really makes you care about her character, and you don't want anything to go wrong in her pursuit to find "Mr. Right."

This is one of the gems that really set up Sandra Bullock as a leading lady that could carry a film on her shoulders. While You Were Sleeping is one of those great romantic comedies that can really grab your attention, and keeps you interested throughout the whole film. Bullock brings her natural personality and flair to the leading role, and you cannot help but fall in love with her character as she goes through the ups and downs of the story. As a film the heart lies in the character development and the humor of the story, and it really comes out a winner in that regard. Sure you may be able to find fault in the original motives of the character, but you get lost in the whirlwind just as she does, and you really want her to be happy in the end. The film really worked well for me, and I find more humor in it every time that I watch it. It is definitely one of Bullock's best films, and one of the better romantic comedies we have seen in recent years.












Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD