Groundhog Day (1993)

Harold Ramis – Director

Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis – Screenplay

Bill Murray, Andie McDowell

Everyone’s favorite time of year! That blessed time when we find out whether we are nearing the end of winter or whether (fingers crossed!) we get 6 more weeks of slogging through 2 foot high snow drifts as we battle our way to work, our lips chapped and noses dripping. Because really, who doesn’t love to slog. And while anyone can put out the odd Christmas or Halloween movie, it is the brave soul indeed who can stand up and declare to the world “I Love Groundhogs Day!” And make a 5 lb, rather timid rodent, its star.

Ok, well perhaps that is being a tiny bit facetious. What is true though however, is that this movie continues to over and over (not unlike the movie itself… get it?) be a perennial favorite. I believe the first time I saw this movie was on a middle school field trip. Perhaps to the family-friendly Pequot Museum to view the wigwams, conveniently adjacent to the Foxwoods Casinos. Since then I have seen it upwards to 5 times in various forms on TBS, TNT, or similar. And every time is gets better.  Though that could be affected by the fact that I have a bit of a love for Bill Murray.

The premise is that a self absorbed weatherman, Phil Connors (Murray), is forced to relive Groundhog Day, ostensibly to suggest that he has been doing a crap job of it so far and needs to make some major adjustments in order to move forward.  So while everyone, including his attractive new producer (the ever lovely McDowell), fails to notice the repeating days, Connors attempts makes the most of the situation by going all out on a hedonistic lifestyle, each day more carefully crafted to come out more perfectly than the last. Eventually tiring of this, he- shockingly!!- turns his attention to his producer, Rita, and finds that even knowing the answer to every question can’t necessarily make her love him.

Bill Murray, like in so many of his films, is in his element as an egomaniac blank who, through a series of romantic encounters, becomes a changed man understanding and appreciating the values of human emotion, connection, and blah blah blah. Seriously, the “man is hilarious” is an understatement. His cocky yet bored, dry sense of humor is nearly unmatched in today’s comedies. His timing is effortless and, coupled with the built in humor inherent in the situations of knowing every outcome before it happens, its comedy perfection. Director and co-writer Ramis (Egon in Ghostbusters) does amazing work with the script, writing scene after scene of gems. From freaking out the local elderly B&B owner by answering every question before she asks it, to robbing the bumbling armored car drivers, it’s the perfect (though regrettable) end to the duo’s work together (Ramis also worked with Murray in Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984).)  Andie McDowell plays the straight man (woman) to Murray, setting the stage for his perfect one- liners and over the top reactions. Though she, like many of his female costars, gets lost, bringing little to the table other than to be his romantic interest and backboard. Give the girls something to work with guys!