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Groundhog Day (1993)

DVD Cover (Sony Home Entertainment 15th Anniversary Edition)
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Overall Rating 77%
Overall Rating
Ranked #193
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Connections: Groundhog Day

A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. On awaking the 'following' day he discovers that it's Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realization that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day. --IMDb
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Review by Kari Byron's Sex Cyborg
Added: February 21, 2008
When it comes to comedies, I like a wide variety: from immature farces with gross-outs to subtle satires with deadpan deliveries. However, I tend to have a hard time finding ones I truly love, ones that actually have substance and a well-cohesive story to go along with the laughs. That is where director/writer Harold Ramis and comedic actor Bill Murray come in.

It's Groundhog Day, and weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, teamed with his new producer (Andie MacDowell) and a cameraman (Chris Elliot) to do a report on whether the groundhog will see his shadow or not. Phil dreads having to cover the event, wanting to quickly get it out of the way and jump back on the road, but getting home bears a problem as they encounter an approaching blizzard that forces them to return to the small town for the night. After his night stay, Phil awakens with a sense of déjà vu, but as the day continues, he really seems to be reliving yesterday. Hoping what he's experiencing is just some strange dream, Phil embraces sleep so it will quickly tide over. But, of course, the morning after leads to the same day as the previous two, and so, Phil is indeed reliving that Groundhog Day over and over and over and over.

We're never given how or why Phil Connors is trapped repeating this day, and that's okay because the story works fine with the mystery aloof since we're not brought to question it. With the premise set, we watch as Phil has fun with the time loop doing whatever he pleases within the small town, knowing that no consequences from the present day will rollover to the following. After a while, he takes particular interest in his amiable producer, Rita, as he diligently tries to get her to fall for him at the end of the day. To the dismay of Phil, no matter how many times he attempts to perfect a single day with Rita, she never gives in to him. Eventually, we see Phil sinking into a state of depression which leads to him committing suicide... more than once that is, as he still continues to awaken in the same bed, to the same Sonny & Cher song “I Got You Babe,” repeating the same day even after he kills himself. In the end, Phil becomes enlightened as he finally reflects upon his life and radically changes his ways from being a self-centered jerk and turns into a considerate, philanthropic person with a positively reformed outlook on life.

As usual, Bill Murray is a humorous treat. He brings his ace comedic skills as he delivers the sarcastic remarks of Phil superbly and picks up the charm near the end of the film oh so well. Andie MacDowell provides a delightful role as the benevolent Rita, adding quite a swelling warmth to the movie. The chemistry that bubbles from the two on-screen is never fluffy or gushing. Instead, it settles calmly on the surface and comes in a genuine form that peaks in the sincerity between one another. There are also great supporting characters aplenty residing in the small town, each giving off their own shine, with the most unforgettable of all being played by Stephen Tobolowsky who acts as an old classmate of Phil’s named Ned Ryerson (bing!).

When it comes to comedies, I like a wide variety: from immature farces with gross-outs to subtle satires with deadpan deliveries. However, I tend to... yeah, that’s not funny, is it? Okay, sorry. Anyway, Groundhog Day has it all being one of the few movies I do consider to be a perfect comedy; moreover, it's a nice, light-hearted one at that. 'Tis a definite must-see for everyone.

9.9/10
crAckerr #1: crAckerr - added February 22, 2008 at 2:33pm
Ya gotta love this movie. 8.5/10
Kari Byron's Sex Cyborg #2: Kari Byron's Sex Cyborg - added February 22, 2008 at 11:35pm
Egads, Murray's face on the cover of the 15th anniversary special edition DVD freaks me out.
C L #3: C L - added April 6, 2008 at 12:15am
This is a brilliant movie. It just works on so many levels: comedy; sci-fi /time travel ; romance. I'm a Billy Murray fan from way back, but this might be his masterpiece.
Lucid Dreams #4: Lucid Dreams - added May 16, 2010 at 11:51pm
A fucking 9.9? Anyways, this is a classic for me. 10/10
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