27 September 2023

While You Were Sleeping

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Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.

Directors: Jon Turteltaub, Hollywood Pictures and Roadshow Films, PG 102 Minutes.

‘National Treasure’ director Jon Turteltaub has fashioned a charming romantic comedy featuring the brilliant Sandra Bullock (‘The Blind Side’) as Lucy a lonely fare collector on the Chicago railway line with a hidden crush on a handsome commuter.

It is during her Christmas shift that Lucy witnesses Peter (Peter Gallagher – ‘Malice’)-the man of her dreams-falling off the platform which forces her to make a spur-of-the-moment decision to jump onto the track to save him from an oncoming train.

Peter is immediately rushed to hospital in a comatose condition accompanied by Lucy where a state of confusion reigns as she is mistaken for his fiancé even by Peter’s family although his brother Jack (Bill Pullman – ‘Casper’) remains somewhat sceptical.

In attempting to awaken from his ordeal Peter is unable to remember anyone at his bedside with his father Ox (Peter Boyle – ‘Doctor Dolittle’) declaring that he has amnesia much to Lucy’s delight having been relieved of telling the truth.

As Jack becomes suspicious about his brother’s fiancé, Lucy has revealed the truth to Saul (Jack Warden – ‘Bullets over Broadway’)-godfather to Jack and Peter-before agreeing to spend a delayed Christmas with the family where she begins to fall for Jack.

What transpires next is a comedy of errors with Lucy initially agreeing to marry Peter so as not to upset the family and then withdrawing at the last moment due to the last-minute objections raised at the marriage ceremony.

It is only in the concluding scenes that the luckless Lucy finds the love of her life that ends up pleasing the entire Callaghan family.

Turteltaub’s 1995 release of ‘While You Were Sleeping’ is an enjoyable warm-hearted romantic comedy that has an entertaining storyline filled with many enjoyable characters starting with Lucy as the leading character and continuing through to Peter’s eccentric family.

Bullock is perfectly cast as the cautious Lucy accidentally caught up in saving the man of her dreams then to be mistaken as Peter’s fiancé.

Complementing her performance are the enjoyable performances of Pullman (Jack), Boyle (Ox) and Warden (Saul) in this feel-good movie about family relationships and a romantic desperately looking to finally fall in love with the man of her dreams.

While You Were Sleeping is televised on Channel 7flix on Saturday 22 August at 8.50pm

Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars

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