Romancemas Day 8: While You Were Sleeping

On the eighth day of Romancemas, I’m revisiting a classic rom-com that I hated the first time I saw it.

Some rom coms are so thoroughly Christmas movies, yet don’t often make the list of holiday movies. They’re more remembered for their plot than the twinkle lights and eggnog. While You Were Sleeping (1995) is the perfect example of that. A woman tricking a family into thinking she’s the fiancé of a man in a coma when she’s never even spoken to him kind of overshadows that it all happens over Christmas. Still, this is a perfect movie to watch during our 12 days of Christmas rom coms. So let’s have a movie night!

Let’s talk about While You Were Sleeping!

Official day 8 festive drink: Hot cocoa with a splash of vegan oat milk eggnog, because I’m a rebel.

I know this is a classic and so many people love it, but when I watched it as a kid, I automatically hated it. It has what I like to call the “Frasier plot.” Someone “accidentally” lies and, instead of fessing up right away, they have to go through ruse after more elaborate ruse in order to keep up the façade. It’s so hard not to yell at the screen. The problem could be fixed so easily! (Can you tell I hate Frasier?)

But, in the interest of fairness, I decided to give While You Were Sleeping a second chance. Maybe in my adulthood, after a few decades of experience, I’d think differently about this movie. After all, I’m no stranger to the kind of crush Sandra Bullock has on Peter. The kind where you fantasize about the life you could have if they just noticed you. (Limerence, baby!)

So, did I love this movie after watching it for Romancemas? Sadly, my childhood opinion stands, with one exception. I still find it infuriating that she goes along with this tremendous lie, painting herself into a corner when she ends up falling in love with the coma patient’s brother. She’s attending Christmas events of a family who thinks she’s one of them. She’s visiting the apartment of someone she doesn’t know. It’s all gross.

Then there’s the leaning scene. THE LEANING SCENE. I’ve always had a crush on Bill Pullman, but that scene clinches it. If anyone ever demonstrates the “lean” to me like he did for Sandra Bullock, I would instantly fall in love, too. That scene alone makes it worth the re-watch.

If you’re watching along, what did you think of the movie? And what about the leaning scene? Discuss with us in the Facebook comments!