I rarely like to give 5 stars to any movie because I think the highest rating should be reserved for the best of the best. A movie has to be virtually perfect, highly entertaining and truly exceptional for me to even consider it for 5-Star status.
In short, the movie has to be a classic.
Well, I don’t like to attach the word “classic” to every movie under the sun. I think most movie-years only produce a handful of classics, sometimes even less, so I don’t like to waste 5 stars. That is why I am as kind of stumped as to why I believe While You Were Sleeping deserves to be included in my own personal Movie Hall of Fame.
Yet, here it is.
This is a wonderful and charming film that excels largely because the writing is so strong. The film is heartwarming without being sappy. It is hilarious without being over-the-top or ridiculous. It is witty, clever, deceptively simple and quite soothing. Those who are not romantics-at-heart might not embrace it so readily, yet, I believe this is the type of movie that can turn a person into a romantic.
I wasn’t big on romantic comedies back in 1995, when this film was released. I always felt they were predictable and that they tried painfully hard to be romantic. To me, most romantic comedies contained one (or more) of the following scenarios: two close friends who were perfect for each other but can’t seem to see it; two bitter enemies who argue passionately until they suddenly embrace in a long, pent-up kiss; and/or two people dancing, walking or singing underneath the sky, which is filled with light from a full moon, a sky-written message of love, or a blanket of stars. Play an old Frank Sinatra tune (or somebody else pre-1950s) and you now have over 85% of the romantic comedies I have ever seen in my life.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, if your movie is bad, all you have to do is have the setting be France, Venice, or some other romantic locale and add the notion that Fate is governing the lives of the two people who soon shall fall in love. That way, most people will leave the theatre feeling really, really good and they won’t care that the filmmakers substituted old romantic tricks in place of strong characters, inspired writing and great acting.
Do I sound bitter? The truth is I am not. However, I have always felt that the Romantic Comedy genre produces the most throw-away films (tied with the horror film genre).
With that said, While You Were Sleeping is an absolute classic of a film that doesn’t insult its audience. It contains romantic moments, but nothing is contrived in this film. Everything works because the film has a passionate spirit that captures your heart and runs away with it.
A large reason for that are classic performances by Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, the two leads. Sure, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden, Peter Gallagher and many others certainly provide some memorable performances that offer a lot of support, but truth be told, Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman shine in this movie in a way that very few movie couples do. There is genuine chemistry here.
The movie begins with its spotlight on Bullock, who plays a kind, but luckless, train token-taker who lives in Chicago. Her mother died when she was young and she ended up in Chicago when her father went to a research hospital. He died, but not before she had dropped out of college and forfeited her dreams of traveling around the world. (How’s this for a quirk – she carries with her a valid passport at all time, though it boasts not a single stamp!)
Her boss just assumes she will be working on Christmas (she already has the past two years) because she has no family. While this is a heartbreaking personality trait, Lucy just sees herself as a little lonely, but she certainly never thinks that she is unfortunate. She has grace and it is difficult to decide whether you should feel sympathy for her, fall in love with her, or do both.
She is a female Walter Mitty of sorts – she watches a man she has never met give her a token every day and she desperately believes that they will get married one day. She watches him give up his seat for others and she knows that he must be a perfect gentleman. Lucy is caught-up in her own private fairy tale and she sincerely believes that he would fall in love with her if only he could get to know her.
Well, Fate steps in (yeah, I know, but it works in this case) and the handsome stranger gets mugged and thrown on the tracks. Lucy manages to save his life just before a train passes, but he has hit his head hard. He is rushed to the hospital where he falls into a coma.
Lucy is quite distraught, and mutters to herself, “That was the man I was going to marry.” Her innocent remark is overheard by a nurse, and the next thing you know, she is thrust into his room. Immediately, the family of the stranger (who is named Peter and played by Peter Gallagher) arrives at the hospital and hears the nurse refer to Lucy as Peter’s fiancé. They are all quite shocked, but since they are a colorful family, they immediately embrace her.
Lucy wants to tell them about the misunderstanding, but she quickly discovers that the grandmother has a weak heart and she fears that another shock will kill her. So, she perpetuates the lie, and of course, it keeps on growing. The irony is, Lucy is a truly honest individual, and watching her lie well is kind of an amusing surprise.
Well, time passes and Lucy soon discovers what she has been missing most of her life: family life. She falls in love with Peter’s family and she just can’t bring herself to tell her new extended family the truth, especially since it is the loneliest time of the year.
Eventually, Lucy meets Peter’s Brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), who is quite suspicious about Lucy. He senses that she isn’t telling the truth because his brother is somewhat of a greedy jerk that would never fall for someone so pure, so he challenges her every chance he gets. Lucy and Jack’s relationship is quite amusing because it is hostile, but even when Jack is pointing an accusatory fingers at Lucy, he is still very nice to her and you can see that he is quite enthralled by her charm.
Perhaps you can guess where the movie goes, but the truth is, the movie is directed so well (Jon Turteltaub, Phenomenon), that you are amused and entertained during the entire movie. The laughs keep coming, too. Peter’s family is just like anybody else’s, full of wacky people that alternately get along and bicker, and the dialog is extremely accurate. I swear I have had these same conversations with my family.
The film also has some remarkable lead characters. Lucy’s happy-go-lucky nature is as endearing as any other character I have ever encountered in films. When she realizes how lonely she is (because she spends her nights talking to a guy in a coma who doesn’t know her) it genuinely breaks your heart. At the same time, watching her touch the lives of everybody she encounters is quite uplifting.
Jack, on the other hand, doesn’t face any tragic dilemmas or problems. Yet, his main angst comes from having to tell his father that he doesn’t want to pursue the family business any more. Pullman is in top form, delivering each line as if it wasn’t written down prior to his speaking it. His performance is completely natural, and he contains a less obtrusive charm, yet he is every bit the perfect match for Lucy (he is an EveryMan for her EveryWoman).
Together, they make daily conversations quite fascinating. They are both amazing actors individually, but together, they seem to reach another level.
Overall, the film excels for many reasons. Not only does it have a timeless appeal to it, but it also contains an old-time movie elegance that has long been absent since the days of Frank Capra (It’s A Wonderful Life). Normally, I cringe at situational comedy if it isn’t done right, but though the situation has some fantastic elements, everything is well-rooted by Turtelaub and the cast.
The film is also quite offbeat and bizarre, at times. There are many extremely clever aspects in this film that are an unexpected delight: the loopy family conversations; Lucy’s big Italian neighbor who is obnoxious and likes to try on women’s shoes; when Peter does wake up and doesn’t recognize Lucy, everybody assumes he has selective amnesia. Gallagher’s expressions are priceless.
If you are looking for a warm, entertaining film, this will provide you with a wonderful escape from whatever hassles are piling up in your life. This film is inoffensive and it could have been made 75 years ago because it is less concerned with fantastic elements (there is no violence, profanity or sex), just good ol’ fashioned story-telling. I realize that a movie like this sounds boring, but once in a while, a film really shines without special effects (even if it is only rated PG!). Heck, even the two stars in it, who are quite famous now, were not really known when it came out.
Of course, watching this movie again, it is as if you are watching them become famous all over again.
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