“Well it's Groundhog Day… again,” Unusually I thought I'd start this one with a quote from the movie as I found it funny. This is a 1993 comedy which was produced by Trevor Albert screenplay by Danny Rubin and based on the Storey by Danny Rubin. I have omitted that the legend that is Harold Ramis shared the screenplay credit and also produced and also directed and also appeared in the movie as well. Starring Bill Murray as the central character of Phil Connors, with work colleagues played by Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott with the townsfolk played by Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Marita Geraghty, Angela Paton, Rick Ducommun, Rick Overton and Robin Duke. The movie runs for 101 minutes it was produced on a budget for less than $30m, it went on to make over $70m at the box office. Released in 1993 I think it would be a great idea to release it again next year but don't announce it as being the same film just players being brand new never heard of new film advertised Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray - Bosh done. Criticly this movie was loved by the three of us, with IMDb giving this 8 out of 10 and Rotten Tomatoes loving it with a score of 96%. Moving on to the plot, it does give me an opportunity of having lots of fun by just writing the same lines over and over again but I will be adult about this and give you the plot. Moving on to the plot, it does give me an opportunity of having lots of fun by just writing the same lines over and over again but I will be adult about this and give you the plot. HA!
On February the first a TV weather crew Travels to Punxsutawney from their base in Pittsburgh, there all rumours before they leave of a blizzard hitting Western Pennsylvania but the team travel anyway. As Phil has predicted it’s going to miss them. The team consists of Larry the cameraman Rita the producer and Phil Connors “the talent” being the weatherman. They're travelling to do the annual report into the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney. Phil is an egotistic, egocentric, self-opinionated man. Rita has organised for him to stay at B’n’B whilst the other two stay at the local hotel. On the 2nd of February Phil awakes to the sound of Sonny and Cher's I got you babe. He goes meets the other members of his team to complete the report to camera ahead of the festival where Phil the Groundhog comes out obvious hold and sees a shadow foretelling another 40 days of winter. Later that day The fan is unable to get through the Blizzard that has in fact hit and they have to turn back just spend another night [at least] in Punxsutawney. Returning to the same room at the bed and breakfast Phil awakes at the same time 2 the tune of Sonny and Cher's I got you babe. The rest of the radio announcement is exactly the same as yesterdays. Becoming suspicious Phil opens the curtains to reveal the weather that they had yesterday so no snow on the ground. Phil goes downstairs has same conversation that he had yesterday and goes to complete the television report which he had already done yesterday. The unusual thing from his point of view, is that no one remembers yesterday only him. The day itself is identical to the previous day but only he remembers and only he believes he has done it already. Knowing they won't make it through the storm he resigned himself staying the next night, this time in the evening he snaps a pencil in half and leaves it next to the bed. awaking the next morning to Sonny and Cher again the pencil is restored. Thus proving that he is repeating the day yet again. Realising that he is potentially stuck in this repetitive time warped process he attempts various different things to get through this day. Going to see a therapist. Going to a doctor. Learning how to play the piano. Realising he can steal thousands from a bungled cash transfer directed by elderly security guards. he realises through the help of a pair of drunks that there can be no consequences for his actions, thus freeing him from any responsibility and allowing him to do whatever he likes. Depression of this eternal day repetitive life finally takes its toll and he commits suicide, only to awaken again to the sound of Sonny and Cher. I think that is enough of the plot, in fact you probably had too much of the plot, but don't let that stop me.
Where do I start with this? This movie has grown over the years and is considered to be one of the greatest movies of the 90s. It's clever storyline allows Bill Murray’s character to develop into whatever he wants to be. The character goes through multiple different phases within the film. From taking advantage of the situation to begin with, before becoming depressed about the repetitive day after day lifestyle, to accepting this life and deciding to make the most of what he has everyday. It could easily become a philosopher's paradise, with various different questions being asked around god, reincarnation or simply being at the will of a Groundhog that makes you repeat the same day over and over. The remaining town folk characters bring this movie to life, with bill being unable to leave the town he learns over time to love everyone there even the annoying insurance salesman. Fundamentally at the heart of this movie is a love story, as Phil grows towards the affections of Rita. Unable to escape the town means that Phil falls in love with the town and everybody within it. This movie reminds me of a friend at college call Raju which he used to translate to Roger Mystri. He loved this movie at first sight where I grew to love it with Harold Ramis being a big influence on the story and the movie, means I love it even more. My affections for Ghostbusters feeds into this movie with his influence. This is a very clever, subtle, funny movie there is little not to like and it’s not the in your face comedies that have been dotted throughout my entire list. This is a great non-aggressive, just simply funny film that brings so many different characters or I should say character types together for Phil to interact with resulting in amusing and funny results. If you've not seen it and to be fair pretty much every movie from now to the end of the list I'm going to recommend watching it and this is no exception. It deserves a beer, some popcorn or snacks and to then just sit back and enjoy the subtleties off something that is genuinely funny and entertaining. Please go and enjoy, if you haven't seen it.
Next on my list is the 2nd movie of a trilogy. The ham, pickle and salad of a sandwich. I am going to sound negative as there is a reason why this film isn't higher in my list but I will get to that and I will also recommend all three of this four part franchise.
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