Is it really a timeless classic?
First off, let me say I am so excited. Why? This is my first actual review post, that's why! Although being my first, chances are it won't be perfect. If you have any nice suggestions on how to better review please leave them in the comments section below!
Groundhog Day is a beloved 1993 psychological horror film directed by Harold Ramis, and starring Bill Murray as a egotistical weatherman for a small news station in Pittsburgh, who is forced to relive February 2nd over and over again.
The movie opens introducing us to Bill's character, Phill Connors. Phill presents a weather report saying that a blizzard is coming, but he is very certain that it will blow past them, just in time for the titular Groundhog Day celebrations. The weatherman is assigned for the fourth year in a row to attend the event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Phill isn't very thrilled however as he has a strong dislike for the small town, and it's residents, even referring to them as "hicks". Accompanying him to film the event is Rita Hansen (Andie Macdowell), a somewhat younger female reporter who is rather more optimistic about the celebration, and cameraman Larry, who really could be taken out of the movie and not much would change.
Now finally on the titular Groundhog Day, Phill reluctantly takes himself through the town as he encounters; a excited and plump man, an old beggar, a pesky acquaintance from high school, and a deep freezing puddle. After making his way through a large crowd all eager to see the groundhog's prediction, Phill makes a cynical and half-hearted report on the festival, simply just wanting to get out of that town as soon as possible. Although as the crew attempt to make their way back to Pittsburgh, they are stopped by a large blizzard and are forced to return to the small town. With a cold shower, Phill retires early to bed... only to wake up on February 2nd, again.
Feeling very confused Phill goes through the day again, experiencing the same events as before. A couple of loops in, he realizes that what he does has no consequences, and so spends the next few loops binge drinking, eating a ton of unhealthy food, and being a general jerk. Phill even goes so far as to use the time loops to sleep with different women before realizing that he is in love with Rita, but Rita is not in love with him. Loop after loop, he uses the information he's learned before to make himself seem like the perfect person to Rita. Which in my opinion, if a man that I hardly know came up to me knowing every aspect of my life, I would definitely get a restraining order ASAP!
After being rejected by Rita multiple times, and just finally snapping after experiencing the same day over and over, Phill continuously attempts suicide, with many different methods; driving off a cliff, toaster bath, getting hit by a truck, jumping off a building, etc. My one complaint right here is that the toaster bath suicide feels like it's trying to be played for laughs even though suicide is a very serious thing. Sure Phill always came back, but it was during these scenes all you could see was a broken and miserable man who simply wanted to end it all, and I wish they handled this a bit more maturely.
Once the death montage finishes, we come to a new February 2nd, in which Phill finally seeks help from Rita. He does this by first convincing her that he's trapped in a time loop by pointing out all the events that occur in the cafe before they happen. Feeling empathy for him, Rita decides to stay with him the whole day and night. It is once after she passes out in his bed next to him, Phill decides to become a better man by using his past knowledge and time loops to master French, piano playing and even ice carving. He also decides to put others before himself and even if it didn't matter, he'd make their days and lives much better. Although despite how hard he tried, he couldn't save the old homeless man, as every time he dies from old age.
Finally we enter the final loop, though we do not know this yet. It starts with him giving a heartfelt speech about Groundhog Day and Winter returning. Then immediately afterwards he goes all throughout town giving out perfectly timed random acts of kindness to every person there. Rita is taken aback by this seemingly sudden transformation of Phill, in a good way though. Later that night Phill attends a party where everyone he helped throughout the day thank him, convincing Rita that he is a good man and even going as so far as to bid three-hundred-thirty-nine dollars and eighty-eight cents on him at the Bachelor Auction. The two spend the rest of the night with each other, eventually falling asleep with each other in bed. As the alarm sounds for 6AM, Phill is amazed, he did it, he escaped the time loop finally. He embraces Rita, saying "I want to live here", and thus ends the movie.
So, what do I think of this classic movie? I thought it was alright. It's a very lighthearted and feel good flick, but it's not as good as it was hyped up to be. Would I watch it again, and again, and again... and again? Possibly not, unless nothing else good is on. Although please keep in mind that this is just my opinion, and if this happens to be your favorite movie, then more power to you!
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