While You Were Sleeping

Name: While You Were Sleeping
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: April 21, 1995
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Sandra Bullock

1995

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 77 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 77 Ratings

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While You Were Sleeping

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: April 21, 1995 | PG

Starring: Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Sandra Bullock

Summary: A lonely subway worker (Bullock) becomes smitten with a handsome stranger (Gallagher). But when she saves his life after he's been mugged and fallen into a coma, his hilariously offbeat family mistakes her for his fiancée. The mix-ups escalate as Lucy fabricates a life between herself and a man she's never met. And when Lucy falls for hisA lonely subway worker (Bullock) becomes smitten with a handsome stranger (Gallagher). But when she saves his life after he's been mugged and fallen into a coma, his hilariously offbeat family mistakes her for his fiancée. The mix-ups escalate as Lucy fabricates a life between herself and a man she's never met. And when Lucy falls for his charming brother (Pullman) the situation really gets complicated as she is forced to make a choice between the two. (BV Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 103 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Christopher Harris

But Turteltaub surprises us. He has the kind of unerring comic touch - easily able to carry his audience from smart dialogue to heart-tugging emotion to something awfully close to slapstick - that should serve the movie world well. Read full review

Richard Schickel

What is startling is how well While You Were Sleeping recaptures the true spirit of the best kind of modern fairy tale -- classic romantic comedy. Read full review

Jeff Giles

The film delivers the warm fuzzies without apology, and you find yourself giving in. Read full review

Leonard Klady

Director Jon Turteltaub has a smooth style suited to classic farce and knows just how to pace the material to accentuate the positive. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The plot runs out of steam just past the one-hour mark and the charade, although necessary to the story, goes on for too long. The ending is, of course, the requisite happy one, but it seems a little anticlimactic. Read full review

Marc Savlov

It's charming, in its own little way, but really, this film has as much substance as a Cirrus cloud, despite fine turns from Boyle as the family patriarch and Warden as Godfather Saul. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The plot of this 1995 romantic comedy, directed by Jon Turteltaub ("Cool Runnings") from a script by Daniel G. Sullivan and Fredric Lebow, is pretty stupid throughout, and the filmmakers show no compunction in shaking its silliness in your face, but the film's casual warmth may make you tolerate some of the shortcomings. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lopez17

Aug 11, 2010

Jon Turteltaub's "While you were sleeping" has all the trappings and familiar ingredients that make up a standard romantic dramedy it has the all too familiar set up. The girl is in love with the person but he does not notice her or she does not make herself know, something happens and sheJon Turteltaub's "While you were sleeping" has all the trappings and familiar ingredients that make up a standard romantic dramedy it has the all too familiar set up. The girl is in love with the person but he does not notice her or she does not make herself know, something happens and she either is thrust into his life or ends up lying to be close to him. In this case, Lucy Moderatz (Sandra Bullock) lies to the object of her affection (Peter Gallagher) family in order to get close to him and be near when he wakes up. You see Lucy saved Peter Callaghan(the first object of her affection) after he fell on the tracks and is subsequently knocked into a coma they take him to the hospital with her in tow and the case of mistaken identity ensues his family thinking he is Peter's fiancÃ©e. If you think this sounds conventional and familiar well then you are wrong the only thing conventional about this picture is the set up to this touching and very deep romance story. At the very center of this film "While you were Sleeping" is the rare romantic dramedy that takes you by surprises not by the fact that you can see what's coming a mile away but by the fact that you did not see it coming makes all the difference. Jon Turtltaub's "While you Were Sleeping" is a film at first I did not expect to like at all it seemed like nothing more than a standard, run of the mill romantic dramedy that would do nothing more than just provide the usual story of a lonely love struck girl getting the man of her dreams. However, after seeing this picture my opinion of this film completely changed I started seeing it for what it is an extremely charming, touching, heartfelt and funny film that is far beyond the standards of Romantic comedy flair. "While you Were Sleeping" is intelligent and daring it is not afraid to show its human side to show how vulnerable its characters as regular people can be. How they easily are hurt, you see in a typical romantic comedy the characters insult each other like there is no tomorrow they hurt one another repeatedly until they finally concludes that this is not how love works in fact it is the exact opposite its called hatred. The characters in this film do not overtly insult each other sure there are moments where they tease one another but for the most part they are a caring bunch of people the most caring would have to be 0x Callaghan(Peter Boyle) who is one of the few Callaghan's that embraces Lucy from the get go. Boyle's character is a sweet yet feisty fellow who is not afraid to defend the ones he loves when needed, that is the key to this films excellence that is what makes it so real, so human, so warm and loving it is the vibrant characters. Without theses colorful cast of characters this film would sink into the low standards the sub genre is recognized. "While You were Sleeping" is a film that can not be missed or ignored it is just too good to be true and to funny and sweet to resist and even though I knew this film was going to have a happy ending, even though I saw where it was headed I still found myself enjoying and loving every single minute of this beautifully drawn film. This film is built from familiar ingredients but this film has such charm and such spirit that no matter how much this film comes off as another rom-com dished out. You will love every single frame and every single minute of this film, the only other thing that saves this film is the magnificent performance from the ever-lovely Sandra Bullock. It is her performance that elevates this film that and the skill of director Jon Turteltaub and his team together they create a film that works better than it should and plays out far better than you could ever expect. The filmmakers do what seldom few directors do in theses films they put a human soul into it, they put real emotions and real feelings into this film that not only affects the mood of the movie but also affects the mood of the audience. If the characters are, arguing and fighting all the time than the audience can become agitated by this and turn there backs on the film. That however, is not the case with this film you feel for the characters you sympathize with the characters you even grow with them as they find there sense o belonging in this world , or in the case of Lucy Moderatz, her sense of belonging. That is what makes a good romantic dramedy and that is why others fail they do not capture the heart and soul the trials ad tribulations that come with the feelings of love. "While you Were Sleeping" hits all the right notes.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

lomeli

Apr 26, 2015

It's a predictable, generic rom-com, but I can't deny that it had me smiling the entire way through. Sandra Bullock's charm and warmness permeate the entire film. Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock have such great chemistry, and their interactions are always hilarious.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AmberM.

Nov 14, 2005

This movie has comedy and romance. It is also one of those movies I would call a "feel good" movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Dostoyevsky3

May 5, 2020

The romantic comedy to define all romantic comedies. While You Were Sleeping is irresistibly lovable through its charming cast and a lovely story that more than lives up to its name.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

r96sk

May 6, 2022

Insanely cheesy and overtly sentimental... yet, I kinda like 'While You Were Sleeping'.

Sandra Bullock is probably the main reason for the latter, as she gives a near perfect performance for this sorta role. The rest of the cast are good too, from Bill Pullman to Peter Gallagher to JasonInsanely cheesy and overtly sentimental... yet, I kinda like 'While You Were Sleeping'.

Sandra Bullock is probably the main reason for the latter, as she gives a near perfect performance for this sorta role. The rest of the cast are good too, from Bill Pullman to Peter Gallagher to Jason Bernard. The story is paced finely, it's really just the strong cheese that brings the rating down for me. Still: 7/10.

It's the sixth Jon Turteltaub film that I've seen: I'd class each one as good. Reliable director!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EugeneFraga

Aug 8, 2022

Leading an outstanding cast Bullock excels in her rom-com debut, the main reason to watch this cuddly, classic love story. A farfetched script and overlength diminish the feel good effect.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This is very much basic rom com territory - it is cheesy, very unplausible and an easy watch. The plot is ludicrous but I went with it - its a bit of fun and sometimes thats just the ticket, so to speak. Its not in any way memorable and neither does it feature stand out performances or aThis is very much basic rom com territory - it is cheesy, very unplausible and an easy watch. The plot is ludicrous but I went with it - its a bit of fun and sometimes thats just the ticket, so to speak. Its not in any way memorable and neither does it feature stand out performances or a believable storyline, as I say but its an alright watch, with some fairly amusing moments and as such, it could be worse I guess. There's not much else I could think to say about it really.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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42	#42 Best Movie of 1995
45	#45 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
30	#30 Most Shared Movie of 1995