mjpiro Review of Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day (1993)

Some Bill Murray Comedy in the Allegory for Male Pattern Depression.

[8/10 · 2 July 2023]

Groundhog Day is the story of a Pittsburgh Meteorologist that travels to Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day event only to get caught up in an unbelievable day repeating itself that very much is an allegory to mature male pattern depression until the Meteorologist puts himself on the right track in life and ends up with the girl at the end!! The Pittsburgh weatherman in this story is played wonderfully by treasured American comic Bill Murray (Ghostbusters) who says and does many funny things in this role of a lifetime!! Murray's character is named Phil in the movie and he is literally supported by his love interest in this film named Rita played terrifically by Andie MacDowell (Sex, Lies, and Videotape) who plays Phil's segment producer in the movie. The duo is not alone though, as they are both supported by funnyman Chris Elliot (There's Something About Mary) who performs as Phil's cameraman. For about 85% of the movie Phil wakes up to the same Sono Bono song "I got you Babe," and to the day Ground Hog day. This kind of day continues until he figures things out at the end that he should be improving himself and doing things for Rita and not wasting his time on other base desires. There's more to the film than that of course but self-improvement and doing things for the woman he loves is the driving message. Groundhog Day is a terrific movie!! It is groundbreaking in the sense that such a sensitive topic has never been approached like this before and especially with such comedy but as they say sometimes comedy is the best medicine. Murray is fantastic in this film, very much Oscar worthy and if he doesn't win in the near future he certainly is worthy of a lifetime achievement Oscar!! Harold Ramis did an outstanding job directing this movie, there is all sorts of comedy involved in it from physical comedy to of course traditional verbal comedy and Ramis' command of the actor's situation is unquestioned!! Danny Rubin and Ramis combined to write a script on a sensitive issue that I have touched on in a very approachable way, something that is not easy to do but these two men pulled it off nicely!! George Fenton did a nice job with the soundtrack, it's a classic!! Jennifer Butler did a fine job with the costuming, everyone looked like they belonged in that merry little town!! Groundhog Day received a PG rating when it was released in 1993. It runs one hour and forty-one minutes. Eight out of ten stars!!