
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 22, 1995                   TAG: 9504260026
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`SLEEPING' HAS THE RIGHT MIX TO BE A HIT

It's obvious from the title and the ad campaign that the producers of ``While You Were Sleeping'' hope it will catch on with the audiences that made ``Sleepless in Seattle'' a hit. They might be right.

This one is another cute romantic comedy, well acted with a strong ensemble supporting cast that often upstages the leads. The matter of on-screen ``chemistry'' is more subjective. Though stars Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman may not have the star power of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, that could be a matter of timing. These roles might be a big career boost.

Lucy (Bullock), our protagonist and narrator, sells tokens for the Chicago Transit Authority and lives with her cat in a small apartment. About the best she can say for her life is that she has sole possession of the remote control. At Christmas, she's the one who has to work because she has no other family.

The high point of her work day comes every morning when a good looking, sharply dressed man (Peter Gallagher) buys a token at her booth. She fantasizes about him but says nothing until the day he's mugged on the platform. Lucy saves his life but, as usual, something goes wrong.

When she finally meets Mr. Right, he falls into a coma.

Through a series of neatly arranged coincidences, she learns that her mystery man is Peter Callaghan, and his family thinks she's his fiancee. More importantly, the Callaghans - father Ox (Peter Boyle), mother Midge (Micole Mercurio), grandmother Elsie (Glynis Johns) - think she's wonderful. The family's close friend Saul (Jack Warden) knows the truth about Lucy and Peter but, for various reasons, advises her to keep up the masquerade. Then Peter's suspicious brother Jack (Pullman) shows up, and Lucy falls even more strongly for him.

Yes, Daniel Sullivan and Frederic Lebow's story is thoroughly contrived, but they treat it with the right amount of seriousness. The action never becomes silly, not even when Lucy's amorous neighbor Joe Jr. (Michael Rispoli) is hiding in her closet and trying on her shoes.

Director John Turteltaub (``Cool Runnings'') apparently told his cast to underplay their roles, particularly in the big comic moments, and to emphasize the domestic side of the action. The film moves at a measured pace, leaving room for the characters to grow, and they're the key.

This kind of light entertainment works when the characters are believable and likeable enough that audiences happily go along with the tenuous premise and plot mechanics. ``While You Were Sleeping'' has the right mix, and even though every moviegoer knows how it's going to end, there are still some surprises.

While You Were Sleeping

***

A Hollywood Pictures release playing at the Salem Valleyn 8. 99 min. Rated PG for subject matter.

by CNB