One of my favorite movies is the comedy Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Here’s what I like about it.
1. Alternate/multiple realities. These, along with time travel stories, fascinate me to no end. Bill Murray faces the same day over and over and over again until he gets it "right". Who determines when it’s "right"? The same as what drove Sam Becket in Quantum Leap: "an unknown force". Everything happens in a substantially similar manner, and only weatherman Phil Connors (Murray) can discern the differences.
2. Light, fluffy plot. It’s not bogged down with time travel references, or explaining away the quantum mechanics of what’s going on. But it’s not an insubstantial plot, either. Phil is initially turned off by his producer Rita, but soon the two get close. Or, rather, Bill keeps trying to perfect the day he hooks up with Rita.
3. Chris Elliott.
4. Loose references to real events. Puxatawney, PA really does have a famous Groundhog Day celebration. Phil’s got his own website, and you can even watch the live events.
5. Quality kills. While they’re normally a staple of action films, Groundhog Day is not without its good kills. Phil Connors kills himself in many different fashions, all of which are worth seeing.
As an added bonus, the movie has even inspired some poetry. It’s a great, great film and given that TBS runs it nearly 50 times a month, you can’t miss it. -pm
Posted in Everyday Life