A coma, a cheating scandal, and the greatest Christmas movie of all time.

There are a few things you can expect me to talk about at some stage in our friendship. And I like to think of this reader-writer dynamic as a friendship, of sorts.

Unsolicited, and at any time, I might deliver a monologue on one of three things: Taylor Alison Swift, the likelihood that there are aliens of some description in the universe (like, come on, we're not THAT special, we can't be the only ones), and the crush I have on Bill Pullman.

Specifically, Bill Pullman in While You Were Sleeping.

It's the most iconic Christmas movie of all time, with a beautiful man, chaotic side-characters, a questionable plot, and a striking young Sandra Bullock. There's also a scene where a young newspaper delivery boy slips and falls of his bike and it's mandatory to rewind that one a couple of times. But I digress.

Released in 1995, While You Were Sleeping has all the signatures of a 90s rom-com, with the added bonus of a festive and snow-laiden Chicago setting.

I also think it's important to note this little rom-com received Golden Globe nominations and made $182 million at the box office. Big stuff! More people should be watching it! Why am I the only one keeping the lore going, with my whimsical thirst edits and podcast mentions on The Spill!

If I have intrigued you, that's wonderful news.

Please, allow me to set the scene: Lucy Eleanor Moderatz (Bullock) is a lonesome girl, working as a fare token collector for the Chicago Transit Authority. She harbours a secret crush on the polished, douchey, and handsome Peter Callaghan (expertly played by Peter Gallagher), who she sees every day as he makes his way to work.

On Christmas Day, she witnesses Peter being mugged and pushed onto the platform in front of the oncoming Chicago 'L' train. A classic! I mean the train, not the 'being shoved in front of an oncoming train' part. That was rude.

Lucy bravely runs towards her crush, jumping onto the train tracks to protect Peter from harm. She succeeds! She follows him to the hospital! She tells the universe she was going to marry that man! Only… the universe sent a pushy nurse (name unknown), who overhears this proclamation and assumes Lucy is Peter's fiancée.

Lucy Moderatz, you are so brave queen! Peter Callaghan… you are not. Image: Getty.

The nurse tells Peter's whole family as much, and honestly what is a girl realistically meant to do when her dreamboat crush is forced into a fake engagement via coma? She can't exactly tell the family the truth, when she's the only thing giving them hope as Peter clutches onto life!!!! So, on some bad advice from her boss who will later pretend he said no such thing, Lucy lies.

Now, here's the thing: this is the kind of lie you can only get away with if you look like Sandra Bullock and live in a fictional world that resembles Chicago. Where the men are weirdly forgiving and the chaos of a fake coma subplot are quickly forgotten. In the wrong hands, this is a gripping thriller. Do not try this home, but you should absolutely watch this at home (it's on Disney Plus FYI).

Lucy's lie becomes unmanageable as she infiltrates the kind-hearted and chaotic Callaghan family — especially when she crosses paths with Peter's brother, the one and only Jack Callaghan (Bill Pullman).

This is the best anyone has ever looked. Image: Getty.

Jack Callaghan is quite possibly the best fictional man ever created.

He's tall.

He's funny.

He's got great hair.

He's a carpenter and can make things with his hands.

He's handsome in a slightly nerdy-yet-scruffy way.

He's got a cool reversible jacket.

I won't even lie, a hefty chunk of my crush comes from the aura of his reversible jacket. Denim on one side, beige khaki on the other. It's giving rugged carpenter by day and hot man who enjoys city escapades by night. Which is great, because he does both of those things.

I recently spent some time deep in a sub-reddit dedicated to finding the brand of his jacket. I did not succeed, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one with eyes on the outfit.

What a man, what a jacket. Image: Buena Vista.

Most of all, Jack is poorly hiding a very strong and secret crush on Lucy and it makes him behave in weird and wonderful ways.

Whether he's accusing her of having an affair with her upstairs neighbour Joe Fusco, Jr. (who is quite possibly the most deranged character in the mix), making her 'prove' her romantic feelings towards Peter in front of everyone, or pretending he's always been 'into blondes' so as not to be sprung for his brunette-loving ways, Jack is incapable of being regular around Lucy.

And isn't that what we all want? Someone who behaves like an absolute buffoon in our presence?

This diva! Always something to say (I spy the jacket in hand). Image: Getty.

Like any good Christmas rom-com, these lovebirds are aided on their journey by the supporting players.

There's the overbearing mother, Midge (Micole Mercurio), the grumpy dad Ox (Peter Boyle), the silly rumour-spreading sister Mary (Monica Keena) and who could forget Grandma Elsie (Glynis Johns)? When everyone is busy talking about one hot topic, she's busy yapping about some random non-related historical figure. And that is SO very me at Christmas time.

Then there's Uncle Saul (Jack Warden), yet another person who does not disclose the truth when he finds out and actually encourages Lucy to keep up the lie. Count your days, Saul, because that is batshit insane advice.

Amid the silly goosery of the family, and some truly wholesome moments as our leading lady starts to feel at home with these kind folks, Lucy and Jack find themselves drawn together.

Whether you've seen it 100 times, or it's your very first viewing, I just KNOW that everyone who watches this movie is left swooning when Jack walks Lucy home from her work Christmas party. Or when he talks to her about the dramatic nature of leaning.

And just when you're thinking 'guys, there is nothing in your way, you should just kiss already,' surprise! You remember the poor, sad, rich brother in a coma with whom she is in a fake relationship. I can't even get started on whether or not he wakes up, because such heights of silly goosery have never before been seen. And if you haven't actually seen this film yet, I want you to be surprised.

If not for the brother in a coma, this would all be so easy. Image: Buena Vista.

While some may be obsessed with Jude Law and Jack Black from The Holiday, or Hugh Grant in Love Actually, I know the truth: the ultimate Christmas movie heartthrob is Bill Pullman. And the fact that he's falling in love with Sandra Bullock makes While You Were Sleeping the greatest Christmas movie of all time.

Still not convinced? Please, watch this very '90s trailer, and then do yourself a favour and watch the movie this weekend.

Looking for more Christmas movies that aren't actually about Christmas? Check out our guide here.

While You Were Sleeping is streaming on Disney Plus.

Feature Image: Buena Vista.