WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1995 Ben Hoffman
This makes for a very light romantic comedy. If you are not looking for anything deeper, you will find it entertaining.
Poor but winsome Lucy (Sandra Bullock) works as a cashier at an elevated station in Chicago, about as dull a job as one could find. The only bright spot in her day is the handsome man she sees each morning as he is about to board his train. They've never spoken; in fact he does not even know she exists. That is the extent of Lucy's love life.
Because Lucy has no real excuse not to work on holidays she is always talked into doing so; other cashiers have family with whom to celebrate but for Lucy one day is like the next ... except this day unexpected things happen. The man she has a thing for, the one who shows up every day, is Peter (Peter Gallagher). For him it turns out to be a different kind of day, too, as he gets mugged and pushed onto the tracks. Lucy races out of the booth, jumps onto the tracks and saves Peter (and herself) by rolling away from the oncoming train. Peter, however, ends up in a coma.
At this point a comedy of errors begins to occur. Lucy visits Peter but not being family, she is not allowed to see him. A nurse mistakenly surmises that she is his fiancee and allows her into the room. When his family arrives, the nurse innocently introduces Lucy as Peter's fiancee. He is still in coma.
Jack (Bill Pullman) is Peter's suspicious brother. Their father is played by Peter Boyle, the mother is Micole Mercurio, and Glynis Johns is the grandmother. Jack Warden is Peter's Godfather. Everyone (almost) is overjoyed with Lucy.
Like all romantic comedies, this one has its twists and its happy ending. Sandra Bullock looks lovely and wistful and cute and the camera keeps focussing on her until I was ready to cry "enough!" But that is only a small complaint. It is not IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT but for light comedy it suffices.
Directed by John Turtletaub.
2.5 Bytes 4 Bytes = Superb 3 Bytes = Too good to be missed. 2 Bytes = So so. 1 Byte = Save your money.
Ben Hoffman
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