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Film: Groundhog Day
Director: Harold Ramis
Country: USA
Released: February 1993
Runtime: 101 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Influenced: Richard Curtis, Duncan Jones, Rian Johnson, Greta Gerwig, Max Barbakow
Groundhog Day is one of my favourite movies of all time, so it's hard for me to write objectively about it. It’s a universal film that will never lose its relevance, even hundreds of years from now, and its critical standing and cultural influence have grown immeasurably over the years. The time-loop idea for the film came from a script by Danny Rubin, who envisioned a story where a man relives the same day over and over again. Rubin's script was originally darker in tone, but was later developed into a comedy with the involvement of director Harold Ramis and the improvisations of Bill Murray. The film was the sixth collaboration between Ramis and Murray, following hit comedies such as Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981) and Ghostbusters (1984), but it would be the culmination of their work together – reports suggest they were constantly at loggerheads on the set of the movie.
Murray's character Phil Connors is a cynical and self-centred weatherman who is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day event, but becomes trapped in a time loop, continually waking up on the same day. At first, Phil uses this time loop for personal gain, indulging in hedonistic behaviour and attempting to seduce his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell). Over time, however, Phil's perspective shifts, and he begins to use his infinite time to improve himself and help others. Murray was perfectly cast for the role, able to portray with skill the combination of good and nasty in his character. Murray reportedly divided his character into "bad Phil" and "good Phil" and would ask Ramis to remind him which he should be before shooting a scene. Many of Murray's lines and gestures were improvised, including the memorable and hilarious scene where he steals the groundhog and teaches it how to drive. At one point during shooting, it took a bite out of Murray’s hand, forcing him to go to hospital.
Groundhog Day was unique for its perfect balance of comedy with philosophical and existential themes, making it more thought-provoking and emotionally resonant than other films in its genre. The movie was actually shot in Woodstock, Illinois, not Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and the town has since become a tourist attraction for Groundhog Day enthusiasts. The production team had to be careful to coordinate the extras so that the same rhythms, patterns and movements of people around the town repeat every day precisely in the background. Ramis was also careful to cast a stellar cast of cameo actors, including several comedians from his Second City days in Chicago such as Robin Duke (as waitress Doris) and David Pasquesi (as Phil's psychiatrist). Great character actor (and Bill’s older brother) Brian Doyle-Murray plays the town mayor, while Stephen Tobolowsky is superb as Ned Ryerson.
The score by English composer George Fenton is another essential component of the movie, and Fenton and Ramis worked together to write the I'm Your Weatherman theme song. Groundhog Day was a commercial success and also received critical acclaim, winning a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay and a runner-up screenplay prize at the 1993 New York Film Critics Circle Awards. Much more important than any award though has been its cultural legacy, with the film not only having a lasting impact on popular culture but also being the subject of academic analysis and philosophical discussion. It's interesting to see the literal translations of the film's titles in other languages, including "The Groundhog Greets Every Day" in Germany, "Monday The Entire Week" in Sweden and "The Spell of Time" in Latin America. Is it ironic how rewatchable this film is? I would argue that it's not only Murray's greatest on-screen performance but also the best comedy movie of all time. And a final note: I was pleased to hear Murray and Ramis eventually reconciled before Ramis died in 2014.
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