MovieChat Forums > While You Were Sleeping (1995) Discussion > Why does Jack propose to Lucy so fast?

Why does Jack propose to Lucy so fast?

posted 9 years ago by hellotrouble
22 replies | jump to latest

Okay I love this movie and I love Jack and Lucy together, but as I’ve gotten older the ending has started to seem a little odd…I mean Jack PROPOSES after they’ve known each other, what, a week? And they haven’t even been on a single date. And earlier in the movie when Jack thinks Lucy and Peter got engaged after 3 months of dating, he remarks “That’s quick.” So it’s totally ironic that later he proposes after a week of knowing her. It would make a lot more sense if Jack had just asked Lucy out after finding out she wasn’t engaged. But I guess there’s probably no explanation for this other than it’s a chick flick and it’s supposed to have a romantic ending, and I guess Jack asking Lucy to dinner is not as dramatic as him proposing. And they probably also wanted it to end with Lucy not being alone anymore. But Jack could’ve asked her out and then maybe the movie could’ve skipped ahead in time to them getting married or something……still a great movie.

[–] MrsJamesStewart 8 years ago

I agree with Magdalene_1024, the relationship was established to be strong enough to warrant a proposal in such a short amount of time.
Also, I've always looked at it that the movie was about more than just Lucy and Jack falling in love. It was about Lucy finding a family with the Callaghans. So with that in mind, in order for that storyline to resolve properly, the movie needs to end with her officially joining the family.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] signlady 8 years ago

"Lucy! They have doctors for this kind of thing!!"

:D

(Jerry, Lucy's boss)

[–] blackhawkswincup2010 7 years ago

My dear wife and I just watched this again last night after spending the day with family. I proposed to her on our 2nd date, and we just celebrated our 38th anniversary on the 19th. It's 7 a.m., day after Christmas, and I can hear her snoring through the wall. I decided early on that her snoring meant that I am so glad she is there, and I've always found it both humorous and comforting.

Quick engagement? Sometimes if you know, you know. Get on with it.

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 7 years ago

I think the ending would have been better if Jack had just turned up at her turnstile, the same way he did, but not necessarily with the engagement ring. We could just see them smile and reconnect.....

.....then flash forward to a caption saying "One year later" -- and THEN we see them married on the train, as per the final scene.

We can then assume that rather than a sudden engagement, they just proceeded with their budding relationship and in due course the proposal happened. It would have seemed less of an unseemly rush.

I do think the engagement ring was too much too soon, even though I do believe he just "knew." But more of a suggestion of what may be to come would have been a better way to go at the end.

On the other hand, some guys still never come up with that engagement after years of knowing someone! I admire Jack's proactive resolve after one week!

[–] GirlNamedSue (235) a month ago

"Why does Jack propose to Lucy so fast?"

Because Jack was deeply in love with Lucy and she had already announced to the world at her wedding to Peter than she was in love with Jack.

Also she was much more Jack's type than Peter's type. They were perfect for each other and they knew it almost from the jump.