Reviews of Groundhog Day

It's Gonna Be A Cold One.

Posted : 11 months ago on 11 December 2008 11:24 (A review of Groundhog Day)

I remember watching this film a long time ago, (as in almost a decade or so ago). I never realized how great it really is. In my opinion, you can't be a kid and understand the concept of this movie. It is in so many words an adult comedy. I am not saying it has even the smallest bit of inappropriate content in it, but the younger groups might think it is stupid just seeing the same thing over and over again. The truth is, it is nowhere near the same thing over and over. It is a great/unique story not seen often today.

A grumpy weatherman (Bill Murray) keeps reliving the same day about a hundred times straight. (By the way Bill Murray could not have done better in his role, and was perfect for the part). The day is February 2nd: Groundhog day. At first, he is confused, and becomes even more grumpy due to nothing being different day by day. (You know you would get a little irritable if that happened to you too. I know I would) He eventually memorizes every event and exactly when they happen. It is very entertaining to watch. After awhile Phil realizes it is actually a privilege to happen to him. He takes advantage of what everyone wishes they could have: basically an unlimited amount of lives, and being able to do whatever you wanted with absolutely no consequences. He makes everything right, helps the community out, and falls in love with his co-worker.

The moral to the story is love, and to live everyday as if it is your last. this film does a great job at portraying that. Great ending, and an absolutely excellent film. Definitely a classic to be remembered, and of course a must buy.

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Repeated viewing....repeated viewing....

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 26 August 2008 04:33 (A review of Groundhog Day)

''Whatever happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I'm happy now... because I love you.''

An obnoxious weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.

Bill Murray: Phil Connors

Andie MacDowell: Rita

One of my favourite films ever. Funny and you learn from it, Bill Murray is a comic genius as well as a phenomenal actor , amazing how he transforms and conveys his transformation, into a completely different person through the films repeated day.

His evolution and change of character is so endearing to watch. Andie MacDowell also shows good charisma and acting alongside Bill, with her role also in Four Weddings & A Funeral shows her penchant and comfort in Romantic comedies.

Ultimately love conquers all, how if one day could be perfected that true love is at the heart. If any of us had the chance to change everything you end up with something so perfect. It's magical and at the same time an escape, escapism from the grim reality of everyday life and it shows how the simple act of being a good person can go out and touch so many lives.

Groundhog Day remains to this day a film that everyone can relate to, that if we could have another chance to make one day perfect is what life is all about. Because in life we don't get this luxury but it is one that Hog gives us a vision into.

A Masterpiece which I have watched countless times.

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A timeless classic!

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 8 March 2008 08:09 (A review of Groundhog Day)

Groundhog day is just one of those films that writers today can never emulate, try as they might. It has the spark of magic that all films used to have, but which has been killed in modern creations. Everyone knows the story, wether it be from X files, the Simpsons, or what ever other story has parodied it, this is the ultimate tale of living the same day over and over again. Bill Murray is a fantastic actor and thus obviously provides the film with the sparks it possesses, but everything he does in this film just makes you feel like you are witnessing an era that is dead. This film is something that everyone should watch at least once in their life, and then buy and re watch, everyone has thought at one point about what they would do given the chance to relive the same day over and over, and this film covers everything.
Watch it now! If you haven't already you are missing out on a proper film here.

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Not just one more comedy

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 1 March 2008 04:16 (A review of Groundhog Day)

Even the funniest movies eventually stop being funny after its watched enough times, the humor no longer surprises. A joke never has the same effect when you know the punch line in advance. But every once in a blue moon, a comedy comes along that is so thoughtful and meaningful in addition to being funny that after seeing it a dozen times and laughing less often, It's noticeable its depth and insight. No movie has such a perfectly united funny aspects with profundity as in Groundhog Day, which happens to be one of my personal favorite comedies.

Superficially, this film belongs roughly in the same genre as comedies in which a character becomes the victim of some weird supernatural fate and must adapt to the insane logic of the situation. And Bill Murray's sarcastic, bored approach is exactly the genious touch this film needed. I can't imagine any other way for this film to work as well as it did, where the world is going crazy around Phil the weatherman, Murray's hard-edged character who keeps his emotions bottled up. What makes the initial scenes in which he first discovers his fate so hilarious is the mounting panic in his demeanor even as he tries to act like everything's normal. All he can think of to say is, "I may be having a problem.", throughout the rest of the film, he'll deliver similarly muted lines to describe his situation. It's striking that a man who has all the time in the world would choose his words so carefully, but it reflects a very well-conceived screenplay.

In this comedy, the laughs are reinforced by repetition. The absurdity of Phil discovering that he's repeating the same day over and over again is funny enough, every time that the alarm clock goes off and the radio starts playing, "I Got You Babe" and Phil goes through the same motions and meets the same people and then goes out into the street to be accosted by the same annoying high school buddy "Phiiiil?", the spectator laughs again because he's reminded how funny it was the first time around. People who may not like this film (there MAY have one or two) emphasize how annoying it is that everything gets repeated. It's understandable such complaint, since jokes repeated over and over usually fail miserably. In Groundhog Day however, works uniquely well because the situation gets increasingly absurd and Phil gets equally desperate with each day that fails to pass by.

The film would have vanished quickly iof it had spent the entire time showing Phil meeting the same people and doing the same things time and again. The fact that Groundhog Day avoids this fate is one of its more striking qualities, since most high-concept comedies of this sort fall apart in the third act. Here is a rare example of one that completely follows through with its premise, leading from the initial situation logically to the ending. Only the Jeopardy scene feels like a skit that could have appeared anywhere. But this scene actually is placed wisely: it occurs when Phil is becoming increasingly bored and lethargic, and it is used to separate two hilarious scenes where he gives nutty television reports.

It is in the middle, centering on Phil's attempts to seduce Rita, when the film reveals itself to be more than just a comedy. The underlying implication of these scenes is that Phil's powers are less important than he thinks they are. He probably could have done the same things (such as his exploits with Nancy) under ordinary circumstances, without the "magic". Ultimately he realizes that his powers doesn't matter, because Rita is too smart and sees right through him. She may not understand the full "supernatural" implications of what he's doing, but she senses that he's somehow manipulating all through the situations. Phil may think he's a god, but he isn't all-powerful.

It's difficult to think of any other actor having pulled this off. Bill Murray is not the only comic actor to have proved himself capable of dramatic depth, but he's one of the few who can mix his humorous and serious side into the same character.

Though this film has a serious message, it is still essentially a comedy. But it's a comedy that uses psychological exploration of a fascinating character to make its point. Once you see through the jokes, Groundhog Day turns out to be also a very rich and deep film.

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Cute, Funny and Thought Provoking

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 27 July 2007 07:59 (A review of Groundhog Day)

Groundhog Day still stands up well after all these years. And is very re-watchable. The set-up to the premise (i.e. the very first time he lives the day) goes by in good pace. And the repeats of the days can be as short as 30 seconds, or much longer depending on the main character's changing objectives. It's cute, and funny and thought provoking. How often do you get a romantic comedy that does all that?

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I got you babe

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 6 May 2007 11:51 (A review of Groundhog Day)

A lighter movie with Bill Murray which has him stuck in the same day, over and over again. I'm sure you've all seen it.

Cool concept which makes you wonder how much one person can change through the course of one day, especially when you learn all the variables.

No joke, when this was first out, I watched in twice in the same day. Hm, that's like, irony, or something.

"On the DVD, Harold Ramis states that the original idea was for him to live February 2nd for about 10,000 years. Later he says that Phil probably lived the same day for about 10 years."

(this factoid brought to you by - www.imdb.com)

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