☆ ☆ ☆ ½
Groundhog Day (1993) – H. Ramis
I suspect it has been 30 years since I saw Groundhog
Day, which does cast a different light on its take home message (that we need
to live each day as if it is the only one we get – or possibly to use each day
productively so they add up to a more meaningful life). Have I achieved this? (Does anyone ever feel they have?). The plot
famously involves arrogant weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) getting stuck
in a time-loop where he has to re-live the same day over and over and over
again; that day is Groundhog Day (2 February – also my wife’s birthday) with
its portentous omen about the future being wintry or nice depending on whether
the rodent sees his shadow. The film takes place in Punxsutawney, PA (NE of
Pittsburgh), a small town, presented as they were in the early ‘90s. As directed by Harold Ramis (who takes a brief
cameo), it is pretty mundane, even cheesily cringeworthy. Phil is above it all,
but his new producer Rita (Andie MacDowall) is on a different wavelength, open
to finding positivity in everything.
Cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) is around to provide Phil-deflating
comments. So, what would you do if each
day was just a repeat of the previous day with every moment fully predictable?
The screenplay (by Ramis and Danny Rubin) intelligently conjectures what the
average person might do: freak out, then take advantage of the lack of
consequences for one’s actions, then fall into despair, then try to use time
more wisely (to learn skills and stuff).
Phil decides to pursue Rita who he comes to know in depth (even if, for
her, it is still just one day), with expected results, given she thinks he is an
arrogant jerk. But eventually, he grows as a person, becoming his better self. This helps him with Rita. Amon (aged 13) felt the film was corny. I liked the “high concept” but it feels
dated, sentimental, with little edge (and not really too many laughs). That said, it is probably a good thing to
take a moment to reflect on a more existential way of being. In this way, the film
“works”.
