Have you ever seen a movie so many times you catch yourself mouthing the dialogue as the characters say it, searching for quotes to put in your away message and watching every other movie the actors are in?
Well, that movie for me is While You Were Sleeping. It is my favorite movie of all time. I loved it the first time I saw it and my love has only grown the last 20 times I've watched it.
The movie -- for those unfortunate enough not to have seen it yet -- is about a woman named Lucy played by Sandra Bullock (The Lake House), who works as a token collector for the Chicago elevated railway and dreams about Italy. One day she saves the life of the man she's been fantasizing about for months, Peter Callaghan, played by Peter Gallagher (The O.C.). After a mix up at the hospital, Gallagher's family is led to believe that she is his fiancée.
Bullock tries to straighten everything out, but eventually plays the role happily until she meets Gallagher's brother Jack, played by Bill Pullman (Scary Movie 4).
Pullman and Bullock fall in love, and Bullock is left deciding whether or not to tell the truth to Gallagher's family or continue to act as his fiancée when he wakes up. The reason the movie is so charming is because of the characters. Gallagher's family is large and close-knit. They talk over each other, argue with each other and pull together in their grief.
When Pullman questions the authenticity of Bullock and his brother's engagement, they ask her to prove that they are affianced. She "proves" the truth of their relationship by recounting a story told to her by one of Gallagher's colleagues--that Gallagher only has one testicle.
The grandmother's response, "Look at the bright side. He has more room in his jockey shorts," epitomizes her character completely and is why I love the movie. The mother is overbearingly loveable, and the father is somewhat clueless. The scenes when the whole family is present shine as some of the best in the movie. All of the secondary characters make the movie worth watching in themselves.
Another reason the movie is worth seeing is the love story. I must admit I am a complete romantic. Watching the relationship evolve between Bullock and Pullman just makes me happy. I can't help myself. I smile like a fool every time they finally proclaim their love for each other. I even rewind the scene so I can watch it again, as crazy as that seems.
Bullock and Pullman are at their best. The chemistry between the two is wonderful to watch.
The movie is a perfect combination of love and humor; the writing is fun and light. It's romantic without being cliché or sappy. Guys, this probably isn't the movie for you, because it's a complete chick-flick. But for you romantics out there, watch this movie, and fall in love.



