Groundhog Day - A Movie Review

Wait, yesterday was Groundhog Day. And the day before that. What is going on?

Groundhog Day woke up in theaters over and over again in 1993. Phil, a weatherman, experiences a strange case of deja vu. Cursed to repeat Groundhog Day day after day in a small town in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil learns that he can do anything that he pleases.

Groundhog Day is a classic. Of course, I have to watch it every year when Groundhog Day is around the corner. It presents one of my favorite themes where characters repeat the same day. The film holds a good story and a meaningful message to live life to the fullest.

Bill Murray makes Groundhog Day what it is. You can never go wrong with his snarky humor. Sharing the same name as the groundhog, Phil goes through an exciting and frustrating time. What can you do when you are cursed with living the same day over and over?

On my most recent watch of Groundhog Day, I paid better attention to Phil’s growth. Murray did a great job exploring Phil’s emotional moments. Although Murray tends to play the same character in all of his movies, he challenged himself in Groundhog Day.

Andie MacDowell does a noteworthy job. I enjoyed all her sarcastic interactions with Murray. They had a ball together. Their relationship showcases how important it is to get to know someone before making judgments. You never know what people have tastes for.

The cast of Groundhog Day had a unique job. Unbeknownst that they are repeating the same day over, the cast has a ball doing multiple takes of the same scene. Credits to include are Chris Elliot, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, and an ensemble of quirky characters.

No part is small in this film. Groundhog Day is a character film. We can all relate to the issues they are facing. Ensemble members did a wonderful job grasping their characters and their inner battles.

Phil the groundhog also makes a memorable appearance. Behind the scenes, he actually bit Bill Murray - TWICE!

The late Harold Ramis did a noteworthy job with the editing. Instead of repeating sequences, he would start right back where Phil made a mistake. Instead of spending time on why all this is happening, instead, Ramis chose to pay attention to the emotional journey of every character in this small town. I feel like I know everyone by the end of the film.

Unfortunately, unable to film in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, instead, filming took place in Woodstock, Illinois. The town has now become iconic, even placing a statue of the puddle that Murray steps in.

For those who don’t like the film because they find it repetitive, that is the whole point. What if you were stuck repeating the same day over? Would you try to make the world a better place? Or do everything that you were not allowed to do?

Groundhog Day is hilarious. It is a superb blend of comedy, dark humor, and character study. Take caution because there is a touch of dark comedy. And surprisingly, it is emotional, too. The story is given depth.

Do we need to know why this is happening? No, that’s what makes Groundhog Day a memorable film. What matters is how Phil reacts to this befuddling situation. Life is like that. It’s better to live every day to the fullest instead of thinking of it as just another day.

You cannot miss out on watching Groundhog Day. It is a hilarious film. Be warned, you may get stuck in a loop of your own watching this film.