While You Were Sleeping

It's amazing to realize how much the rom-com genre has evolved over the last 10 or 15 years. Compare While You Were Sleeping, for instance, with Must Like Dogs. While still hewing to the traditional rom-com plot arc, the latter has subtlety, wit, depth, and a delicate touch. While You Were Sleeping Does not. Everything about this movie is predictable, including Bullock's performance. It's interesting to see the earlier work of someone who's been in the business for over 15 years. In her case (as is the case with the bewilderingly overrated Julia Roberts), Bullock seems to have developed a set of pat reactions early on and not strayed too far from them. The only redeeming feature of this picture is that it's not *completely* insulting to our intelligence. Plus there are some believable, though stock, performances by supporting players. Other than that, it has nothing to offer.

Sandra Bullock is at her best when playing this kind of character. She's lovable, vulnerable, and real. She seems like someone you'd know instead of an impossibly glamorous movie character. We own this DVD and watch it over and over again. The supporting cast shines as well; Peter Boyle, Micole Mercurio, Glynis Johns, Monica Keena, and Jack Warden make the Callaghan family so endearing that it's easy to see why Lucy (Bullock) would want to be part of it. Peter Gallagher is great as the self absorbed object of Lucy's affection. This isn't a movie that's deep or thought provoking; it's just a lot of fun and sweet. Another of those rare movies that you can watch with your family (there are a couple of questionable instances regarding breast enhancement and accident involving a pencil; the movie would not have missed them had they been omitted, but there is more good than bad here).

I confess...this movie is cheesy, corny and cliché in every possible way. As an author, I should be appalled but you know what? I'm not! I love a good chick flick and this ticks all the boxes. The truth is, if you want a girly movie, you're going to have to put up with clichés. The moment Peter fell onto the tracks, it was clear what was going to happen yet somehow, it made the movie so much more enjoyable. I love the acting of Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. They both just work so well together. This movie is one I love to sit and watch on a lazy Saturday night when my husband is doing something else. An amazing, feel-good movie that has you grinning like an idiot at the end despite how predictable it is.

Wonderful romantic comedy - but sometimes I wish the characters had been reversed. I'm a guy in the same position as Lucy - dead parents, no family - but this is never explored. Sure would like to know why. Excellent film, however - great comedy, even some drama involved. But let's do a guy film, OK?