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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 63 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	Your Score
8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 63 Ratings

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While You Were Sleeping

Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: April 21, 1995

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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Awards & Rankings

35	#35 Best Movie of 1995
34	#34 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
30	#30 Most Shared Movie of 1995

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) 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

Newsweek Jeff Giles

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

Variety 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

ReelViews 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

Austin Chronicle 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

Chicago Reader 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

AmberM.

Nov 14, 2005

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

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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

CatherineO.

Dec 19, 2005

I love this movie! It's a classic romantic comedy.

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EmmeS.

Jun 18, 2006

Strangely enough, my favorite holiday movie. coma-guys quirky family (headed by Peter Boyle) are unforgettable as a solid family unit. I mean that literally too...they seem to always move about as one unit. Perfect chemistry between Sandra and Bill, and I would kill for a chance to actually Strangely enough, my favorite holiday movie. coma-guys quirky family (headed by Peter Boyle) are unforgettable as a solid family unit. I mean that literally too...they seem to always move about as one unit. Perfect chemistry between Sandra and Bill, and I would kill for a chance to actually live out the slippery ice scene.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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

MovieGuys

Apr 24, 2014

While You Were Sleeping can be described no other way than "that cheesy 90's romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock." It's a throwaway Valentine's day movie night with the girlfriend or wife, boyfriend or husband: that's all it's good for.

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amheretojudge

Aug 28, 2018

the finesse on weaving the structure..

While You Were Sleeping While You Were Sleeping is a plot driven romcom whose benign complexity is its strength unlike any other feature. The core is undeniably a typical textbook equation but it exfoliates the charm with one liners and hilariousthe finesse on weaving the structure..

While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping is a plot driven romcom whose benign complexity is its strength unlike any other feature. The core is undeniably a typical textbook equation but it exfoliates the charm with one liners and hilarious humor rather than polishing it with flirty talk. And when it grows intense it holds onto you until you surrender yourself feeling a plethora of emotions where the primary one is satisfaction. The chemistry is the ace in the hole in such genre which it delivers unflinchingly in here but it's not among the lead characters that are at their best but side ones. Bullock and Warden are the perfect sensible teammates you will ever get on screen whilst Bullock's bittersweet relationship with Rispoli is the highlight of the feature. The narrative has a mockery tone that draws out the laugh from its uncertainty and unexpected outcomes from each character. The screenplay by Sullivan and Lebow is gripping, adaptive and sensible if not layered or thought provoking as the makers might suggest. It is shot beautifully with a true Christmas spirited theme that is pleasingly light and breezy to encounter but is unfortunately short on technical aspects like cinematography, background score and editing. Bullock as always delivers to the full with the help of a decent supporting cast like Boyle, Warden and Rispoli. The ironic humor, a sense of urgency and a good old romantic tale are the high points of the feature. The director Turteltaub is honest to its characters and storyline where he neither overchews it nor leaves it undercooked. While You Were Sleeping is surprisingly a very smart feature on terms of the finesse on weaving the structure with every bit of husky material it could scrape off from its characters and their sub-plots.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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