I Watched Sandra Bullock’s While You Were Sleeping For The First Time And Loved It, But One Scene Left Me Confused

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In my usual habit of re-watching a limited number of films frequently, I’ve decided to make it a point this year to discover and watch at least one new film every fortnight. So far, so good, but there’s still plenty of time left in the year. Recently, I finally got around to watching “When Harry Met Sally” and was captivated by it. Now, “While You Were Sleeping,” starring Sandra Bullock, has joined my list of top romantic comedies. Despite enjoying the movie immensely, there was one scene that had me questioning the creativity of the writers when they decided to include it.

In a different setup: Sandra Bullock portrays Lucy, a solitary railway worker who harbors feelings for Peter (Peter Gallagher), a regular commuter at her workplace. During a mugging, Peter is shoved onto the train tracks, and Lucy heroically rescues him. She then follows him to the hospital, where she learns he’s in a coma. In an unintentional act, Lucy gives the impression that she’s his fiancée to the hospital staff and his family. Despite her dislike for deceit, Lucy finds comfort in being reunited with a family until Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), arrives on the scene. This leads to them growing close, creating a complex situation.

Entering the movie, I was unaware of any details apart from its reputation as a top-notch holiday romance. I’m pleased to confirm that this appraisal holds true. However, I must admit there was one scene I felt could have unfolded differently.

While You Were Sleeping Is A Masterclass In The Miscommunication Trope

In many films and series, it can be annoying when characters fail to communicate clearly, leading to misunderstandings; yet, I never felt frustrated with Lucy in the movie “While You Were Sleeping“. Instead, I empathized with her predicament and found myself sympathetic towards her. To be honest, watching her maintain a deception while developing feelings for Jack was quite amusing, indeed.

In the movie, there were numerous instances when I burst out laughing due to the persistent misunderstandings among the characters. For example, Jack mistakenly believed Lucy was unfaithful to Peter with Joe Jr., while Mary spread a false rumor that Lucy was pregnant. Saul’s inability to assist Lucy in clarifying the situation only added to the confusion. At no point did I find these miscommunications unrealistic or frustrating.

But I Wish The Movie Left Out The Mistletoe Kiss Scene

A few days following their initial family gathering, Lucy receives an invitation to join Peters’ family for a late Christmas celebration. Initially hesitant, she eventually consents and enjoys the event immensely. Upon saying her goodbyes, Jack accompanies her outside where they both find themselves standing under a mistletoe near the entrance. Hesitant about the customary kiss, they are encouraged by Peter’s family to participate. In the end, swayed by their cheers, Lucy and Jack share their first kiss.

On one side, adding the scene proved to be a clever move for Lucy to plant a kiss on Jack without their pretense of being engaged being exposed. After all, it would be simple to dismiss any accusations of infidelity since it was merely a friendly mistletoe kiss that everyone supported and encouraged. In essence, it provided an ideal opportunity for the genuine romantic interests to share their first kiss, thus establishing the iconic opening kiss scene every rom-com requires.

It’s difficult to comprehend that everyone is supporting Lucy and Jack, given that she’s engaged to their son who’s in a coma. To make matters worse, they share a passionate kiss! They could have opted for a more subtle display of affection, but instead, they passionately kissed each other. This scene was quite jarring and left me wondering if I should be supporting Lucy and Jack. Fortunately, I managed to move past it, but I believe the kiss scene between them would have been more appropriate after the truth had been disclosed.

Even though the holiday season has passed, if you’d be up for watching a film with a festive vibe in January, I strongly suggest you to stream “While You Were Sleeping” via Hulu subscription. Plus, while you’re there, take a look at some of the top ’90s movies that are available on their platform as well.

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2025-01-15 02:07